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-'''Partial tone''' or '''partial''' is another name for [[Harmonic|harmonic]], often used to characterize [[Timbre|timbres]].
+{{Wikipedia|Harmonic series (music)#Partial}}
+A '''partial''' (or '''partial tone''') is a sine wave component of a periodic sound (with regard to [[Wikipedia:Fourier analysis|Fourier analysis]]). Partials are often used to characterize [[timbre]]s.
+== Terminology ==
+The words ''partial'', ''overtone'' and ''harmonic'' are sometimes treated as synonyms. Yet, there are significant differences between them:
+* An '''overtone''' is a partial above the ''fundamental'', the partial with the lowest frequency. This explains why the numbering of partials and overtones is usually offset by one (e.g. the second partial is the first overtone).
+* A [[harmonic]] is a whole-number multiple of the fundamental frequency of a sound. It is not always a partial of a sound: for example, it can also be another pitch played alongside the first one. However, partials can be qualified as ''harmonic'' or ''inharmonic'' depending on their relationship to the fundamental.
+That said, the context is usually sufficient to clear up any potential confusion.
+== See also ==
+* [[Mixed timbre]]
+[[Category:Theory]]
+[[Category:Timbre]]