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. Cf. alacrity

Explanation

In music, allegro distinguishes a movement that's meant to be played very quickly. Your piano teacher might instruct you to try playing a piece allegro. If you're reading sheet music and you see the word allegro, you'll know that particular section or movement should be played in a lively, spirited way. There are many Italian musical terms that describe or direct the tempo, or speed, of the music, and allegro is one of these. The word means "cheerful or gay" in Italian from the Latin root alacrem, "lively, cheerful, or brisk."

Example Sentences

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

From Washington Post • May 13, 2022

As company class nears its end, artistic director Peter Boal sets a grand allegro combination, telling the dancers they can use the final four counts to do whatever they want.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 13, 2021

In the first movement, she is timidly approached by the fawnlike James Hay, who dances for her with quick, allegro finesse before kneeling and kissing her hands.

From New York Times • May 22, 2017

Where golf architects hear an allegro and an adagio, championship officials hear cash registers.

From Golf Digest • Aug. 29, 2016

Gasping for air like I just completed a grand allegro combination.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day