piano nobile

American  

[pyah-naw naw-bee-le] / ˈpjɑ nɔ ˈnɔ bi lɛ /

noun

Italian.

piani nobili plural

1. the principal story of a large building, as of a palace or villa.

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piano nobile British  

/ ˈpjɑːnəʊ ˈnəʊbɪlɪ /

noun

1. architect the main floor of a large house, containing the reception rooms: usually of lofty proportions

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• piani nobili
  plural

Etymology

Origin of piano nobile

Italian: great floor

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

piano nobile

The operatic museum in which they reside has many rooms, even on the piano nobile that both by right will occupy.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 20, 2013

March 2007 Belgian designer and antiques dealer Axel Vervoordt’s apartment is on the piano nobile of the 15th-century Palazzo Alverà in Venice, Italy.

From Architectural Digest ● Mar. 1, 2010

But Kitty declared she knew the way, would just show Lord Magellan the piano nobile, dismiss him at the grand staircase, and return.

From The Marriage of William Ashe by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

He was in the octagonal room on the piano nobile of the castle, where his lost ladies of old years smiled on him from their frames.

From My Friend Prospero by Harland, Henry

Below, the piano nobile was rented by the proprietor of a great wine industry.

From The Happy End by Hergesheimer, Joseph