tuning fork
tuning fork
Noun
pl: tuning forks
This term refers to a specialized tool designed for precision and stability. In musical contexts, it serves as an absolute reference point, providing a fixed pitch that does not fluctuate, which distinguishes it from relative tuning methods where one instrument is tuned to another.
In clinical settings, the tool is used for diagnostic purposes rather than musical ones. It allows practitioners to differentiate between types of hearing loss by comparing air conduction and bone conduction, making it a staple of basic otological examinations.