Chromatic \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.

Note: 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)