Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CHORD, n. [L. chorda; Gr. χορδη, an intestine, of which strings were made. When it signifies a string or small rope, in general, it is written cord. See Cord.]

1. The string of a musical instrument. – Milton.
2. In music, the union of two or more sounds uttered at the same time, forming an entire harmony; as a third, fifth, and eighth, which are perfect chords, or consonancies. The fourth and sixth are imperfect chords.
3. In geometry, a right line drawn or supposed to extend from one end of an arch of a circle to the other. Hence the chord of an arch is a right line joining the extremities of that arch. – Encyc.