Harmonics, Partials, Overtones

>I stand semantic correction. I had always understood "partials"
>to mean multiples of a frequency. i.e frequency multiplied by an
>integer.
>I have been using the term "harmonics" in the musical
>(what you hear) sense rather than in the mathematical sense.

I've always taken partials to mean:
* "Partials" to mean frequency components of a sound whether or not they
are
harmonically related.
* "Overtones" to mean essentially the same as partials, but implying
frequency components above the perceived pitch of the tone as a whole.
* "Harmonics" to mean partials that are in fact harmonically related.

Unfortunately, I don't think there's any realistic way out of "harmonic"
having two meanings, those of musical harmony and of integer-frequency
relationships. I say that because "harmonic" is already a mathematical
term to that effect, and I don't think that anybody would be interested in
purging the music world of words whose root is "harmony".

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