continuo

American  

[kuhn-tin-yoo-oh] / kənˈtɪn juˌoʊ /

noun

Music.

continuos plural

1. a keyboard accompanying part consisting originally of a figured bass, which in modern scores is usually realized, and serving to provide or fill out the harmonic texture.

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continuo British  

/ kənˈtɪnjʊˌəʊ /

noun

1. music

   1. a shortened form of basso continuo See thorough bass

   2. ( as modifier )

      a continuo accompaniment

2. the thorough-bass part as played on a keyboard instrument, often supported by a cello, bassoon, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• continuos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of continuo

1715–25; < Italian: literally, continuous

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

continuo continuos

Ms. Salvant’s 2023 release, “Mélusine,” included songs that dated back to the 12th century, sung in four languages, and made prominent use of the theorbo, the plucked lute used for Baroque basso continuo accompaniment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026

Harpsichord and viola da gamba act as soloists as well as continuo; a modern lute song is a lullaby.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025

There’s elasticity in the way the ensemble’s sound expands and contracts, reacting to fluctuations in the intensity of the characters’ feelings and enlivening music built predominantly from strings and continuo.

From New York Times ● May 9, 2022

Sagripanti also provided the musically authentic and essential fortepiano continuo that deftly knit together the score.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 16, 2017

The works by which Clari distinguished himself pre-eminently are his vocal duets and trios, with a basso continuo, published between 1740 and 1747.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various

The level of consciousness is associated with the capacity of that brain to find and refresh, in a continuos way, the position of the being in a model.

From The Brain, A Decoded Enigma by Moisa, Dorin Teodor

We join by putting one thing to another in close or continuos connection.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah