adagio

[ uh-dah-joh, -zhee-oh; Italian ah-dah-jaw ]

/ əˈdɑ dʒoʊ, -ʒiˌoʊ; Italian ɑˈdɑ dʒɔ /

adverb

Music. in a leisurely manner; slowly.

adjective

Music. slow.

noun, plural a·da·gios.

Music. an adagio movement or piece.

Dance.

a sequence of well-controlled, graceful movements performed as a display of skill.
a duet by a man and a woman or mixed trio emphasizing difficult technical feats.
(especially in ballet) a love-duet sequence in a pas de deux.

Nearby words

adabazar, adactylous, adactyly, adad, adage, adagio, adah, adak, adam, adam and eve, adam bede

Origin of adagio

1740–50; < Italian, for ad agio at ease; agio < Old Provençal ais or Old French aise (see ease)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for adagio

I have not yet decided on the adagio, and think I shall reserve it for Naples.
Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Italy and Switzerland|Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
This Adagio, however, were the date of its composition unknown, might pass for a very clever imitation of Beethoven's style.
The Pianoforte Sonata|J.S. Shedlock
In every symphony of Haydn the adagio or andante is sure to be repeated each time, after the most vehement encores.
Haydn|J. Cuthbert Hadden
I was especially delighted with an adagio, and with several of his extemporised variations.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 2 (of 3)|Otto Jahn

The Adagio and Rondo made a great effect and were followed by the heartiest applause and shouts of bravo.
Frederic Chopin, v. 1 (of 2)|Moritz Karasowski

British Dictionary definitions for adagio

adagio

/ (əˈdɑːdʒɪˌəʊ, Italian aˈdadʒo) music /

adjective, adverb

(to be performed) slowly

noun plural -gios

a movement or piece to be performed slowly

ballet a slow section of a pas de deux

Word Origin for adagio

C18: Italian, from ad at + agio ease

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Culture definitions for adagio

adagio

[ (uh-dah-joh, uh-dah-zhee-oh) ]

A very slow musical tempo.