dominant

dominant
—dominantly, adv.
/dom"euh neuhnt/, adj.
1. ruling, governing, or controlling; having or exerting authority or influence: dominant in the chain of command.
2. occupying or being in a commanding or elevated position.
3. predominant; main; major; chief: Corn is the dominant crop of Iowa.
4. Genetics. of or pertaining to a dominant.
5. Music. pertaining to or based on the dominant: the dominant chord.
n.
6. Genetics.
a. the one of a pair of alternative alleles that masks the effect of the other when both are present in the same cell or organism.
b. the trait or character determined by such an allele. Cf. recessive (defs. 4, 5).
7. Music. the fifth tone of a diatonic scale.
8. Ecol. any of one or more types of plants, or sometimes animals, that by virtue of abundance, size, or habits exert so important an influence on the conditions of an area as to determine, to a great extent, what other organisms can live there.
[1525-35; < L dominant- (s. of dominans, prp. of dominari to DOMINATE), equiv. to domin(us) master + -ant- -ANT]
Syn. 1. prevailing, principal. DOMINANT, PREDOMINANT, PARAMOUNT, PREEMINENT describe something outstanding. DOMINANT describes something that is most influential or important: the dominant characteristics of monkeys. PREDOMINANT describes something that is dominant over all others, or is more widely prevalent: Curiosity is the predominant characteristic of monkeys. PARAMOUNT applies to something that is first in rank or order: Safety is of paramount importance. PREEMINENT applies to a prominence based on recognition of excellence: His work was of preeminent quality.

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▪ music
      in music, the fifth tone or degree of a diatonic scale (i.e., any of the major or minor scales of the tonal harmonic system), or the triad built upon this degree. In the key of C, for example, the dominant degree is the note G; the dominant triad is formed by the notes G–B–D in the key of C major or C minor. For further explanations of these relationships, see also cadence and harmony.

      The strongest harmonic progression in tonal music is from the dominant chord to the tonic triad (i.e., the triad built upon the first note of a diatonic scale). It has been estimated that during the period when tonal harmony dominated Western music, from about 1650 into the 20th century, a substantial percentage of all harmonic successions involved a dominant–tonic relationship of some kind. The relationship between tonic and dominant keys (e.g., C major and G major) is an essential component of the tonal organization of the sonata form.

Mark DeVoto
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • dominant — dominant, ante [ dɔminɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • XIIIe; de dominer 1 ♦ Qui exerce l autorité, domine sur d autres. Nation dominante. Féod. Fief dominant. Dr. Fonds dominant : immeuble au profit duquel existe une servitude (opposé à fonds servant). ♢ Biol.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • dominant — I adjective ascendant, authoritative, cardinal, chief, commanding, controlling, eminent, first, foremost, governing, hegemonical, influential, leading, main, master, overshadowing, paramount, predominant, predominating, preeminent, preponderant,… …   Law dictionary

  • dominant — dominant, ante (do mi nan, nan t ) adj. 1°   En parlant des choses, qui domine, qui prévaut. Goût dominant. Passion dominante. •   Comme elle [la passion du trône] est la première, elle est la dominante, CORN. Tite et Bér. I, 2. •   Je veux, je… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • dominant — DOMINÁNT, Ă, dominanţi, te, adj., s.f. 1. adj. Care domină. ♦ (Despre însuşiri, factori, trăsături etc.) Predominant, specific, caracteristic. 2. s.f. Trăsătură caracteristică a unei lucrări, a unui proces etc. 3. s.f. (muz.) Treapta a cincea a… …   Dicționar Român

  • Dominant — Dom i*nant, a. [L. dominans, antis, p. pr. of dominari: cf. F. dominant. See {Dominate}.] Ruling; governing; prevailing; controlling; predominant; as, the dominant party, church, spirit, power. [1913 Webster] The member of a dominant race is, in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dominant — UK US /ˈdɒmɪnənt/ adjective ► more important, powerful, or successful than other people, companies, etc.: »The question was whether cable or wireless would become dominant. dominant force/player »For a long time Detroit was the dominant force in… …   Financial and business terms

  • dominant — dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant, preponderating, sovereign mean superior to all others in power, influence, position, or rank. Something is dominant which is thought of as ruling, as commanding, or as uppermost {a dominant race}… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Dominant — Dom i*nant, n. (Mus.) The fifth tone of the scale; thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on. [1913 Webster] {Dominant chord} (Mus.), the chord based upon the dominant. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • dominant — DOMINANT, ANTE, adject. Qui domine. Passion dominante. Humeur dominante. Goût dominant. [b]f♛/b] On dit figurément, qu Il y a dans un ouvrage une idée dominante à laquelle tout est subordonné. Cet homme est obsédé d une idée dominante qu il… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • dominant — [däm′ə nənt] adj. [L dominans, prp. of dominari: see DOMINATE] 1. exercising authority or influence; dominating; ruling; prevailing 2. Genetics designating or relating to that one of any pair of allelic hereditary factors which, when both are… …   English World dictionary

  • dominant — Dominant, [domin]ante. adj. v. Qui domine. Seigneur dominant. fief dominant. passion dominante …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

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