legato

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

/ ləˈgɑ toʊ; Italian lɛˈgɑ tɔ /

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adjective, adverb Music.

smooth and connected; without breaks between the successive tones.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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. 2023

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