alto
[ al-toh ]
/ ˈæl toʊ /
noun, plural al·tos.
adjective
of, relating to, or having the tonal range of the alto.
(of a musical instrument) second highest in a family of musical instruments: alto saxophone.
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Origin of alto
1775–85; < Italian < Latin altus high
Definition for alto (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for alto
British Dictionary definitions for alto (1 of 2)
alto
/ (ˈæltəʊ) /
noun plural -tos
the highest adult male voice; countertenor
(in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto
a singer with such a voice
another name for viola 1 (def. 1)
a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group
adjective
denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group
Word Origin for alto
C18: from Italian: high, from Latin altus
British Dictionary definitions for alto (2 of 2)
alto-
combining form
highaltocumulus; altostratus
Word Origin for alto-
from Latin altus high
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Culture definitions for alto
alto
The lowest range of the female singing voice, also called contralto. (Compare mezzo soprano and soprano.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.