a straight line connecting two points on a curve
"The engineer drew a chord across the circular arc to calculate its length."
a combination of three or more notes that blend harmoniously when sounded together
"The pianist played a rich C major chord, and its harmonious notes filled the concert hall."
A harmonic set of three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously.
"The violinist played a rich major chord that filled the concert hall with harmony."
In plain English: A chord is when you press down on more than one string at once to make music together.
"He played a simple chord on his guitar to set the mood for dinner."
Usage: In music, a chord consists of multiple notes played at the same time to create harmony, whereas playing individual notes sequentially forms a melody. Do not confuse this musical term with "cord," which refers to a rope or wire used for tying things together.
play chords on (a stringed instrument)
"She sat by the window and played gentle chords on her acoustic guitar while it rained outside."
To write chords for.
"The pianist agreed to chord his friend's new song before they performed it together."
The word "chord" is a variant spelling of "cord," borrowed from Latin chorda meaning "gut." It ultimately traces back to Ancient Greek, where the original term referred specifically to the string of an instrument like a lyre.