definitions

concerto

[ kuh n-cher-toh; Italian kawn-cher-taw ]
/ kənˈtʃɛr toʊ; Italian kɔnˈtʃɛr tɔ /
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noun, plural con·cer·tos, con·cer·ti [kuh n-cher-tee] /kənˈtʃɛr ti/. Music.

a composition for one or more principal instruments, with orchestral accompaniment, now usually in symphonic form.

RELATED WORDS

setup, poetry, writing, drama, theme, symphony, music, arrangement, melody, piece, tune, essay, manuscript, number, paper, thesis, getup, dissertation, opus, stanza

Nearby words

concertina wire, concertino, concertize, concertmaster, concertmistress, concerto, concerto grosso, concertstück, concession, concession road, concessionaire

Origin of concerto

1720–30; < Italian, derivative of concertare; see concert (v.)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for concerto

British Dictionary definitions for concerto

concerto

/ (kənˈtʃɛətəʊ) /

noun plural -tos or -ti (-tɪ)

a composition for an orchestra and one or more soloists. The classical concerto usually consisted of several movements, and often a cadenzaSee also sonata (def. 1), symphony (def. 1)
another word for ripieno

Word Origin for concerto

C18: from Italian: concert
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

Word Origin and History for concerto

concerto

n.

1730, from Italian concerto (see concert). Concerto grosso is from 1724.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Culture definitions for concerto

concerto

[ (kuhn-chair-toh) ]

A piece of instrumental music written for one or more soloists and an orchestra.

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.