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
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
Minimalist ostinatos propel the piece, but Mr. Stucky has so much going on, in so many layers and usually at contrasting tempos, that his use of repetition seems a secondary concern.
From New York Times ● Feb. 25, 2012
