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


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


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



RESET




Word of the Day

3 May 2025

DESIRABLE

(adjective) worth having or seeking or achieving; “a desirable job”; “computer with many desirable features”; “a desirable outcome”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans, the seeds of berries from certain Coffea species. When coffee berries turn from green to bright red – indicating ripeness – they are picked, processed, and dried. Dried coffee seeds are roasted to varying degrees, depending on the desired flavor.

coffee icon