1590s (of music), "progressing by half-tones;" 1829 as "pertaining to color," from Latin chromaticus, from Greek khromatikos "relating to color, suited for color," from k [..]

In common terms, chromatic refers to light having the perceived quality of color, as opposed to achromatic. More specifically, chromatic has the quality of hue. All colors other than the neutral color [..]

adj. Belonging, relating to, or abounding in color.

In essence the use of “accidental” notes.

Color perception other than white, black, or gray.

Pertaining to or derived from the chromatic scale, which includes all 12 tones to the octave. Chromatic harmony is a vague term referring either to the use of many altered tones in the chord, or to the use of chromatic root-movement in between the given chords.

(adj) able to refract light without spectral color separation(adj) based on a scale consisting of 12 semitones(adj) being or having or characterized by hue

Adjective used to describe the presence of all twelve different tones (including sharps) in a Western music scale. A chromatic scale has all twelve notes in succession, without any omissions. A non-ch [..]

extensive use of accidentals in melody and harmony.

[0,1] 1. pitches outside the prevailing key. 2. different notes with the same letter names, e.g. F and F#. Most scales contain all seven different letter names; thus, chromatic notes are those outside of the key. See also: chromatic semitone

A descriptive term for melodies or harmonies that use all or most of the twelve degrees of the octave.

all 1/2 steps.

Includes all twelve notes of an octave.

in simplest terms this can be defined as a scale consisting of half steps. It also would naturally refer to any melodic or harmonic passages which contain primarily half steps. Pärt's music is notable for its lack

The scale that includes all of the 12 pitches (and thus all of the 12 semitones) contained in an octave, as distinct from the diatonic scale.

Use of notes not in the basic scale of a composition or passage. Harmonic style frequently using such notes.

That which is perceived as having a hue (not white, gray, or black).

any system of color.

the tones outside the diatonic scale which are indicated in the musical text as accidental signs; opposite of diatonic.