# chord

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɔːd/ · frequency rank #12,019

## Definitions
1. A harmonic set of three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously.
2. A line segment between two points of a curve.
3. A horizontal member of a truss.
4. A horizontal member of a truss.
5. The distance between the leading and trailing edge of a wing, measured in the direction of the normal airflow.
6. An imaginary line from the luff of a sail to its leech.
7. A keyboard shortcut that involves two or more distinct keypresses, such as Ctrl+M followed by P.
8. The string of a musical instrument.
9. A cord.
10. An edge that is not part of a cycle but connects two vertices of the cycle.

## Etymology
Variant of cord, with spelling alteration due to Latin chorda (“cord”), ultimately from Ancient Greek χορδή (khordḗ, “string of gut, the string of a lyre”). No relation to French accord (“chord”) and its derivations. Doublet of cuerda.

## Easily confused with
- **cod** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cod)
- **cor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cor)
- **CHR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-chr)
- **cold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cold)
- **core** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-core)
- **corn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-corn)
- **cord** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cord)
- **cork** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cork)
- **Cory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cory)
- **chow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-chow)
- **Cora** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cora)
- **chou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-chou)
- **curd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-curd)
- **coed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-coed)
- **Choy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-choy)
- **cond** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cond)
- **corr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-corr)
- **crowd** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-crowd)
- **chose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-chose)
- **cloud** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chord-vs-cloud)

## Common misspellings (8)
`cchord`, `chhord`, `chodr`, `chordd`, `chorrd`, `chrod`, `cohrd`, `hcord`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chord