legato

[ luh-gah-toh; Italian le-gah-taw ]

/ ləˈgɑ toʊ; Italian lɛˈgɑ tɔ /

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Definition of legato

adjective, adverb Music.

smooth and connected; without breaks between the successive tones.

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Compare staccato.

Origin of legato

1805–15; <Italian, past participle of legare<Latin ligāre to bind

OTHER WORDS FROM legato

non·le·ga·to, adjective

Words nearby legato

Legaspi, legate, legatee, legatine, legation, legato, legator, leg before wicket, leg-break, leg bye, Legco

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use legato in a sentence

Among them is veteran effects man Rob Legato, who came to Cameron with the idea for the virtual camera.
The Genius of Avatar|Kim Masters|December 13, 2009|DAILY BEAST
He made me play it again perfectly legato, and with no one note "sticking out" more than another.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Double passages, such as double thirds and sixths, should be divided and each half practised separately, with legato touch.
Piano Mastery|Harriette Brower
But legato does not bring the best results in rapid passages, for it does not impart sufficient clarity.
Piano Mastery|Harriette Brower

The old instruction books tell us that legato must be learned first, and is the most difficult touch to acquire.
Piano Mastery|Harriette Brower
When single fingers can make accurate up and down movements, we can put two fingers together and acquire a perfect legato.
Piano Mastery|Harriette Brower

British Dictionary definitions for legato

legato

/ (lɪˈɡɑːtəʊ) music /

adjective, adverb

to be performed smoothly and connectedly

noun plural -tos

a style of playing in which no perceptible gaps are left between notes
(as modifier)a legato passage

Word Origin for legato

C19: from Italian, literally: bound

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