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CONTRALTO
alto, contralto
(adjective) of or being the lowest female voice
contralto, alto
(noun) the lowest female singing voice
contralto
(noun) a woman singer having a contralto voice
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.
Noun
contralto (plural contraltos or contralti)
(music) The lowest female voice or voice part, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor. Originally the contratenor altus was a high countermelody sung against the tenor or main melody.
Synonyms
• alto
Coordinate terms
• (voice types): soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)
Source: Wiktionary
Con*tral"to ( or , n. Etym: [It., fr. contra + alto. See Alto.] (Mus.) (a) The part sung by the highest male or lowest female voices; the alto or counter tenor. (b) the voice or singer performing this part; as, her voice is a contralto; she is a contralto.
Note: The usual range of the contralto voice is from G, below middle C, to the C above that; though exceptionally it embraces two octaves.
Con*tral"to ( or , a. (Mus.)
Definition: Of or pertaining to a contralto, or to the part in music called contralto; as, a contralto voice.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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