From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishclefclef /klef/ noun [countable] APMa sign at the beginning of a line of written music to show the pitch of the notestreble/bass clef
Examples from the Corpus
clef• Formerly, notes written in the bass clef were written a fourth lower than the required pitch instead of a fifth higher.• The bass clef is used for the lower parts of the compass, the tenor for the higher.• Parts are notated for him in five different clefs bass, tenor, alto, mezzo-soprano and soprano.• His parts are always notated in tenor clef and have a range of c to f'.• Its part is generally written in the treble clef on B or G to distinguish it from the side-drum.• Its part is written in the treble clef and sounds two octaves and a tone lower.• the treble clef• The treble clef is always used even for the bottom notes.treble/bass clef• Its part is generally written in the treble clef on B or G to distinguish it from the side-drum.• Its part is written in the treble clef and sounds two octaves and a tone lower.• Formerly, notes written in the bass clef were written a fourth lower than the required pitch instead of a fifth higher.• The bass clef is used for the lower parts of the compass, the tenor for the higher.• The treble clef is always used even for the bottom notes.Origin clef (1500-1600) French “key”, from Latin clavis 