Chro*mat"ic (?), a. [L. chromaticus, Gr. , suited for color, fr. , , color; akin to color, skin, color of the skin.]
1.
Relating to color, or to colors.
2. Mus.
Proceeding by the smaller intervals (half steps or semitones) of the scale, instead of the regular intervals of the diatonic scale.
⇒ The intermediate tones were formerly written and printed in colors.
Chromatic aberration. Opt. See Aberration, 4. -- Chromatic printing, printing from type or blocks covered with inks of various colors. -- Chromatic scale Mus., the scale consisting of thirteen tones, including the eight scale tones and the five intermediate tones.
© Webster 1913.