basso profundo

[bas-oh proh-fuhn-doh, -foon-, pruh-, bah-soh]

noun

plural

bassiprofundi 

1. a singer with a bass voice of the lowest range.

basso profundo

/ proˈfundo, prəʊˈfʌndəʊ /

noun

1. (esp in operatic solo singing) a singer with a very deep bass voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of basso profundo¹

First recorded in 1855–60, basso profundo is from Italian basso profondo literally, “deep bass.” See basso, profound

Word History and Origins

Origin of basso profundo¹

Italian, literally: deep bass

Example Sentences

But the payoff for me came when he demonstrated the station’s rare 1934 diaphone fog signal, which sounds off with two descending blasts, basso profundo.

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Artificial intelligence can paint meddlesome monkeys, speak in the basso profundo of James Earl Jones and play a tune to suit a hall of mirrors.

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As the God of Love, Phillip Bullock travels from airy falsetto to basso profundo depths.

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Sasfy added, “The style is clear — male passion and pain made real by exaggerated timing, breathless gasps, resounding basso profundo, swooping falsettos and nervous yelps.”

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Moments of racial violence are evoked by Koh playing growling, guttural scratch tones, often on her open G string, while Tines cycles from his rich basso profundo to an ethereal falsetto.

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