Typically when describing a scale its very typical to describe the pattern in terms of semitones and tones or half steps and whole steps as follows:
A major scale is a diatonic scale. The sequence of intervals between the notes of a major scale is:
whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half
But there are scales like the harmonic minor and Phrygian dominant that have an augmented second interval which goes beyond the typical semitone and tone or half step and whole step and create situations like this:
The sequence of steps comprising the Phrygian dominant scale is:
half – augmented second – half – whole – half – whole – whole
So is there a better term to use in place of augmented second in these situations?