ostinato
noun
a constantly recurring melodic fragment.
ostinatos
-
pluralof ostinato.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“In Walked Bud” emerges from a series of ostinatos, with a nearly dreamy focus on its pentatonic core.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Giddens wrote her libretto for “Omar” and began sending Abels a slow deluge of recordings of lines — vocal lines, banjo ostinatos, keyboard melodies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2022
Hushed drones and ostinatos probably aren’t her route out of that cul-de-sac.
From Slate ● Jul. 24, 2020
Mr. Tyner’s playing on this track is disciplined and neatly contained, but you can easily spot the signature shadings of his harmonies and his trilling ostinatos.
From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2020
As he’s gotten older, the pianist’s left hand has begun to overtake his famous right-hand ostinatos, and it gave the impression of thunder.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2018
