portamento

[ pawr-tuh-men-toh, pohr-; Italian pawr-tah-men-taw ]

noun

, Music.

, plural por·ta·men·ti [pawr-t, uh, -, men, -tee, pohr-, paw, r, -tah-, men, -tee], por·ta·men·tos.

1. a passing or gliding from one pitch or tone to another with a smooth progression.

portamento

/ ˌpɔːtəˈmɛntəʊ /

noun

1. music a smooth slide from one note to another in which intervening notes are not separately discernible Compare glissando

Word History and Origins

Origin of portamento¹

1765–75; < Italian: fingering, literally, a bearing, carrying. See port ⁵, -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of portamento¹

C18: from Italian: a carrying, from Latin portāre to carry

Example Sentences

In this early period of instruction the pupil was exercised in both portamento and messa di voce.

From Project Gutenberg

You, who know what is meant by singing with portamento, would find rare satisfaction in her singing of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Both her portamento di voce and her volubility were declared to be unrivaled.

From Project Gutenberg

At one point the boys took a portamento—a grace which very few choirmasters would attempt with boys.

From Project Gutenberg

Aria di portamento was also slow, but with stronger rhythm and wider intervals.

From Project Gutenberg