piccolo

American  

[pik-uh-loh] / ˈpɪk əˌloʊ /

noun

• piccolos
  plural

1. a small flute sounding an octave higher than the ordinary flute.

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piccolo British  

/ ˈpɪkəˌləʊ /

noun

1. a woodwind instrument, the smallest member of the flute family, lying an octave above that of the flute See flute

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piccolo Cultural  

1. A small, high-pitched flute.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• piccolos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of piccolo

1855–60; < Italian: literally, small

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Explanation

Many orchestras include a piccolo, which is a small, high-pitched flute. The word piccolo is in the fairly extensive group of Italian words that designate musical instruments and other musical terms. A piccolo is a small flute that plays an octave higher than an ordinary one; the word comes, appropriately enough, from the Italian for "small," which is also piccolo.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

piccolo piccolos

Her flutes — from piccolo to bass and all in between — and friends became magic makers in this numinous physical and musical landscape.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

Being selected is a testament to every band member who came before, said Claire Rhyu, a flute and piccolo player, and she’s still in disbelief.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 24, 2023

His father’s cousin, he said, played the saxophone and introduced him to the instrument; Mr. Press later added flute, clarinet, piccolo and others to his arsenal.

From New York Times ● Oct. 28, 2022

A splendid duo between Aaron Goldman’s flute and Carole Bean’s piccolo was soured by a harsh off-note from the trumpets, and here and there the timing of the brass seemed to come loose.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 1, 2022

As if understanding his signal perfectly, a single piccolo played a single note and off in the east a solitary shaft of cool lemon light flicked across the sky.

From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

More often, Ms. Frank deploys an unusual combination of instruments, such as piccolos and celesta, or a motif—like the short, repeated pulse that sounds like a cry—to create a dreamscape that is all her own.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026

Band members received new uniforms, new drums and, most recently, new flutes and piccolos, all of it paid for by the district’s budget for the arts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2024

Cox brought it to a crest with hopeful strings, leaping piccolos and optimistic blasts from across the back of the orchestra.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 8, 2022

The perfectionist woodwinds — piccolos, flutes, clarinets and saxophones — are invariably drowned out by the brass section, meaning their dedication to musicianship doesn’t rely on recognition.

From New York Times ● Nov. 23, 2019

This time two more piccolos and a flute joined in and three more rays of light danced lightly into view.

From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster

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