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poco a poco

American  
[poh-koh ah poh-koh, paw-kaw ah paw-kaw] / ˈpoʊ koʊ ɑ ˈpoʊ koʊ, ˈpɔ kɔ ɑ ˈpɔ kɔ /

adverb

Music.
  1. gradually; little by little.

    poco a poco accelerando.


poco a poco British  

adverb

  1. (in combination) music little by little

    poco a poco rall

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of poco a poco

Borrowed into English from Italian around 1850–55

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.

White dijo que en los últimas dos semanas él, Musk y Zuckerberg, con la ayuda de asesores, han negociado entre bastidores y están avanzando poco a poco hacia el combate físico.

From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2023

Un hombre va a la ciudad a buscar trabajo y empieza a cantar en un restaurante hasta que poco a poco gana fama.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2019

Still, I have learned poco a poco, little by little.

From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads

A gradual acceleration     accelerando affrettando stringendo poco a poco animato     2.

From Essentials in Conducting by Gehrkens, Karl Wilson

Per� vi lascio in questo vano amore Di Fiordespina ardente a poco a poco: Un' altra fiata, se mi fia concesso, Racconterovi il tutto per espresso.

From Gryll Grange by Peacock, Thomas Love