STACCATO

staccato, disconnected

(adjective) (music) marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; cut short crisply; “staccato applause”; “a staccato command”; “staccato notes”

staccato

(adverb) separating the notes; in music; “play this staccato, please”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

staccato (plural staccatos or staccati)

(music) An articulation marking directing that a note or passage of notes are to be played in an abruptly disconnected manner, with each note sounding for a very short duration, and a short break lasting until the sounding of the next note; as opposed to legato. Staccato is indicated by a dot directly above or below the notehead.

(music) A passage having this mark.

(figurative) Any sound resembling a musical staccato.

Adverb

staccato (comparative more staccato, superlative most staccato)

(music) played in this style

Adjective

staccato (comparative more staccato, superlative most staccato)

(music) Describing a passage having this mark.

Made up of abruptly disconnected parts or sounds.

Antonyms

• (music): legato

Anagrams

• stoccata, toccatas

Source: Wiktionary

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Stac*ca"to, a. Etym: [It., p.p. of staccere, equivalent to distaccare. See Detach.]

1. (Mus.)

Definition: Disconnected; separated; distinct; -- a direction to perform the notes of a passage in a short, distinct, and pointed manner. It is opposed to legato, and often indicated by heavy accents written over or under the notes, or by dots when the performance is to be less distinct and emphatic.

2. Expressed in a brief, pointed manner. Staccato and peremptory [literary criticism]. G. Eliot.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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