In 1884, Angelo Moriondo of Turin, Italy, demonstrated the first working example of an espresso machine.
PIANO
piano, soft
(adjective) (used chiefly as a direction or description in music) soft; in a quiet, subdued tone; “the piano passages in the composition”
piano, softly
(adverb) used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly
piano, pianoforte, forte-piano
(noun) a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
piano, pianissimo
(noun) (music) low loudness
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology 1
Noun
piano (plural pianos or piani)
(musical instruments) a keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings [from 1803]
Synonym: pianoforte
Coordinate terms: cembalo, clavichord, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, synthesizer, synth
Adjective
piano (comparative more piano, superlative most piano)
(music) soft, quiet
in extended use; quiet, subdued
Etymology 2
Adverb
piano (not comparable)
(music) softly, as a musical direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music) [from 17th c.]
Anagrams
• NAIOP
Source: Wiktionary
Pi*a"no, a. & adv. Etym: [It., even, smooth, soft, fr. L. planus even, level.] (Mus.)
Definition: Soft; -- a direction to the performer to execute a certain passage softly, and with diminished volume of tone. (Abbrev. p.)
Pi*an"o, Pi*an"o*for`te, n. Etym: [It. piano soft (fr. L. planus even, smooth; see Plain, a.) + It. forte strong, fr. L. fortis (see Fort).] (Mus.)
Definition: A well-known musical instrument somewhat resembling the harpsichord, and consisting of a sreies of wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by keys. Dumb piano. See Digitorium.
– Grand piano. See under Grand.
– Square piano, one with a horizontal frame and an oblong case.
– Upright piano, one with an upright frame and vertical wires.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
24 March 2025
STACCATO
(adjective) (music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply; “staccato applause”; “a staccato command”; “staccato notes”
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