fioritura

[ fee-awr-i-toor-uh, -ohr-; Italian fyaw-ree-too-rah ]

noun

, Music.

, plural fio·ri·tu·re [fee-awr-i-, toor, -ey, -ohr-, fyaw-, r, ee-, too, -, r, e].

1. the ornamentation of a melody, often extemporized by the performer, as in Italian opera during the 18th century.

fioritura

/ ˌfiːərɪ-; ˌfjɔːrɪˈtʊərə /

noun

1. music embellishment, esp ornamentation added by the performer

Word History and Origins

Origin of fioritura¹

1835–45; < Italian, equivalent to fiorit ( o ) flowery, originally past participle of fiorire to flower + -ura -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of fioritura¹

Italian: a blossoming

Example Sentences

Their songs were low and musical, not unlike the song of the canary, though there were no cadenzas or fioritura passages.

From Project Gutenberg

She neither added a single fioritura nor a single ornament which had not been noted by the composer.

From Project Gutenberg

Fioritura means embroidery, while cantabile means "song-like."

From Project Gutenberg

Valentine's prayer, if given, was so overlaid with fioritura that I did not feel sure of it.

From Project Gutenberg