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

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Etymology

Origin of piano nobile

Italian: great floor

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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 Mrs. Humphry Ward

You were crossing the garden—you were bending over the sun-dial—and I spied upon you from a window of the piano nobile.

From My Friend Prospero by Henry Harland

The piano nobile is the residence of the beautiful and lovely Principessa d’Antuni, the youthful widow of the Principe who was himself a grandson of Marie Christine, the Queen of Spain.

From Italy, the Magic Land by Lilian Whiting

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