allegro

American  

[uh-ley-groh, uh-leg-roh, ahl-le-graw] / əˈleɪ groʊ, əˈlɛg roʊ, ɑlˈlɛ grɔ /

adjective

1. brisk or rapid in tempo.

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noun

PLURAL

allegros

1. an allegro movement.

allegro British  

/ -ˈlɛɡ-, əˈleɪɡrəʊ /

adjective

1. (to be performed) quickly, in a brisk lively manner

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noun

1. a piece or passage to be performed in this manner

allegro Cultural  

1. A brisk, lively musical tempo. Allegro is Italian for “cheerful.”

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Etymology

Origin of allegro

1625–35; < Italian < Latin alacer brisk. alacrity

Example Sentences

They brought dynamic agility to the opening allegro of No. 8 — Watkins’s cello sneaking up and pouncing into fizzy bursts of violin.

From Washington Post

Each ballet spills over with energetic steps, but old as it is, “The Dream,” with more fluidity in its ever-whirling, fleet-footed petite allegro, remains the more modern of the two.

From New York Times

The opening allegro found him moving the orchestra from state to state: here liquid, there solid as stone.

From Washington Post

Or at least the “molto allegro” style with which this composer is often associated.

From New York Times

If the first bar is like that, it’s not con brio at all; it’s allegro comodo or allegro pesante or something like that.

From New York Times