cool word # 1

gamut |ˈgamət|

noun (the gamut)

1 the complete range or scope of something: the whole gamut of human emotion.

2 Music a complete scale of musical notes; the compass or range of a voice or instrument.

• historical a scale consisting of seven overlapping hexachords, containing all the recognized notes used in medieval music, covering almost three octaves from bass G to treble E.

• historical the lowest note in this scale.

PHRASES

run the gamut experience, display, or perform the complete range of something: wines that run the gamut from dry to sweet.

ORIGIN late Middle English: from medieval Latin gamma ut, originally the name of the lowest note in the medieval scale (bass G an octave and a half below middle C), then applied to the whole range of notes used in medieval music. The Greek letter Γ (gamma) was used for bass G, with ut indicating that it was the first note in the lowest of the hexachords or six-note scales (see solmization) .