crescendo

[kri-shen-doh, -sen-doh, kre-shen-daw]

noun

plural

crescendos, crescendi 

1. Music.

   1. a gradual, steady increase in loudness or force.

   2. a musical passage characterized by such an increase.

   3. the performance of a crescendo passage.

      The crescendo by the violins is too abrupt.

   Antonyms: diminuendo

2. a steady increase in force or intensity.

   The rain fell in a crescendo on the rooftops.

3. the climactic point or moment in such an increase; peak.

   The authorities finally took action when public outrage reached a crescendo.

adjective

1. gradually increasing in force, volume, or loudness (decrescendo ordiminuendo ).

verb (used without object)

1. to grow in force or loudness.

crescendo

/ krɪˈʃɛndəʊ /

noun

1. music

   1. cresc. a gradual increase in loudness or the musical direction or symbol indicating this

   2. ( as modifier )

      a crescendo passage

2. a gradual increase in loudness or intensity

   the rising crescendo of a song

3. a peak of noise or intensity

   the cheers reached a crescendo

verb

1. (intr) to increase in loudness or force

adverb

1. with a crescendo

crescendo

1. A musical direction used to indicate increasing loudness.

The term is sometimes used figuratively to indicate rising intensity in general: “As the days went on, there was a crescendo of angry letters about my speech.” Crescendo is also sometimes misused to indicate a peak of intensity, as in, “The angry letters about my speech hit a crescendo on Wednesday.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of crescendo¹

1770–80; < Italian: literally, growing < Latin crēscendum, gerund of crēscere to grow; crescent

Word History and Origins

Origin of crescendo¹

C18: from Italian, literally: increasing, from crescere to grow, from Latin

Example Sentences

In the book, he writes of "angry crescendos and heavy silences" from his parents' bedroom, which instilled a "constant watchfulness that became instinct before I understood why".

From BBC

Calls for Clarke to go really did hit a crescendo that summer.

From BBC

Other members of his top team have added to the crescendo.

From BBC

“He’s been on the field for 30 minutes. We finally hit the crescendo with the first pitch tonight for V from BTS,” a voice is heard saying in a video chronicling the moment.

From Los Angeles Times

At the Turning Point USA conference over the weekend, right-wing pundit Megyn Kelly commanded the crowd to “make some noise if you care about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal,” leading a crescendo of cheers.

From Salon

Related Words

• escalation 
• upsurge