pianoforte

American  

[pee-an-uh-fawrt, -fohrt, pee-an-uh-fawr-tee, -tay, -fohr-] / piˈæn əˌfɔrt, -ˌfoʊrt, piˌæn əˈfɔr ti, -teɪ, -ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. a piano.

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pianoforte British  

/ pɪˈænəʊˈfɔːtɪ /

noun

1. the full name for piano 1

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pianoforte Cultural  

1. The full name of the piano, the common musical instrument with a board of black and white keys, eighty-eight in all. The keys operate hammers that strike wires. Pianoforte is Italian for “soft-loud”; it received this name because its level of loudness depends on how hard the player strikes the keys.

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Etymology

Origin of pianoforte

1760–70; < Italian ( gravecembalo col ) piano e forte literally, (harpsicord with) soft and loud, equivalent to piano soft ( see piano ²) + forte loud ( see forte ²)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pianoforte

A trip to Paris to work for a family who needs a companion for their child leads to pianoforte lessons, but with no prospect of a public life as a musician.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

"She not only plays sitar and maruli, but pianoforte too," adds Kate.

From Salon ● Apr. 9, 2022

So the melodies remained intact, even when the arrangements became "lower and darker", as on the pianoforte rework of Never Gonna Give You Up.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2019

A providential accident nearby soon deposits a handsome injured gentleman at their school; his friends visit; and vivacious Miss Asquith, practical Miss Pffolliott and scientific Miss Franklin become busy with more than their pianoforte lessons.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 4, 2015

“That is a grand pianoforte, and he might think it too large for Mrs. Bates’s house.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

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Related Words

• grand piano
• instrument
• keyboard

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