apotome, apotomy

[In Ger. apotom; Gr. ἀποτομή ( apotome ) = a cutting off; ἀποτέμνω (apotemno) = to cut off: ἀπό (apo) = from, and τέμνω (temno) = to cut. Or τομή (tome) = a stump,... a cutting; from τέμνω (temno).] 1. Ancient Greek Music : (a) That interval in the ratio of 2187 2048, which being cut off from the major tone 9:8, left the interval called a leimma , or minor semitone , in the ratio 256:243. (b) The interval 125: 128 was called a major apotome , and 2025: 2048 a minor one. 2. Math.: The remainder or difference of two in commeasurable quantities.