divertimento

[ dih-vur-tuh-men-toh; Italian dee-ver-tee-men-taw ]

/ dɪˌvɜr təˈmɛn toʊ; Italian diˌvɛr tiˈmɛn tɔ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR divertimento ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural di·ver·ti·men·tos, di·ver·ti·men·ti [dih-vur-tuh-men-tee Italian dee-ver-tee-men-tee] /dɪˌvɜr təˈmɛn ti Italian diˌvɛr tiˈmɛn ti/. Music.

an instrumental composition in several movements, light and diverting in character, similar to a serenade.

Nearby words

diverticulectomy, diverticulitis, diverticuloma, diverticulosis, diverticulum, divertimento, diverting, divertissement, divertive, dives, divest

Origin of divertimento

1750–60; < Italian, equivalent to diverti(re) to divert + -mento -ment

Also called divertissement.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for divertimento

In August, 1879, the composer added a sixth movement, Divertimento.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
Si, signorina, zat yong American gentleman say it—dam slow, no divertimento.
Jerry Junior|Jean Webster
I chose the title of Divertimento for the second movement of my Suite, because it was the first which occurred to me.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
Some time after midnight we felt that we had had enough of divertimento.
New Italian sketches|John Addington Symonds

Probably the divertimento composed in July, 1776 (251 K.) was also intended for his sister's fte-day.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 1 (of 3)|Otto Jahn

British Dictionary definitions for divertimento

divertimento

/ (dɪˌvɜːtɪˈmɛntəʊ) /

noun plural -ti (-tɪ)

a piece of entertaining music in several movements, often scored for a mixed ensemble and having no fixed form

an episode in a fugue

Word Origin for divertimento

C18: from Italian

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