octet

n.

1. Music.
   1. A composition for eight voices or eight instruments.
   2. A group of eight singers or eight instrumentalists.
2. A group of eight: "A train of heavy wagons rumbled north on the Winnipeg Trail, drawn by octets of oxen" (Garrison Keillor).
3. See octave (sense ).
4. A set of eight valence electrons in an atom or ion, forming a stable configuration.

[Alteration (influenced by OCTO-DUET) of Italian ottetto, from otto, eight, from Latin octō.]

A stable group of eight electrons in the outer shell of an atom (as in an atom of a noble gas).

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A piece for eight solo instruments. Mendelssohn's Octet is an outstanding example for strings only. The wind octet, typically two each of oboes clarinets, horns and bassoons, has a rich repertory, including some of Mozart's finest serenades. Schubert's d 803 is one of several octets for mixed ensembles of wind and strings.

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A piece written for eight parts, or the group that performs such a piece.

IN BRIEF: A group of eight.

The eight accordion players gathered every Friday night to form an octet at the local dance hall.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - oktet

Nederlands (Dutch)
octet, achttal

Français (French)
n. - (Mus) octuor, (Comput) octet, (Littérat) huitain

Deutsch (German)
n. - (Mus.) Oktett

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - οκτάδα, (μουσ.) οκταφωνία, οκτέτο

Italiano (Italian)
ottetto

Português (Portuguese)
n. - octeto (m)

Русский (Russian)
октет

Español (Spanish)
n. - octeto

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - oktett

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
八重唱, 前八行, 八重奏, 八行诗

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 八重唱, 前八行, 八重奏, 八行詩

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 8중주곡, 8명이 한조

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 八重奏曲, 八重奏団

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) اللحن الثماني معد لثماني آلات أو مغنيين‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮יצירה מוסיקלית לשמונה קולות או כלים, שמיניה, שמונה השורות הראשונות של סונטה, מסלול מלא של שמונה אלקטרונים באטום, אוקטט‬

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