presto

[ pres-toh ]
/ ˈprɛs toʊ /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR presto ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

quickly, rapidly, or immediately.
at a rapid tempo (used as a musical direction).

adjective

quick or rapid.
executed at a rapid tempo (used as a musical direction).

noun, plural pres·tos.

Music. a movement or piece in quick tempo.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of presto

1590–1600; <Italian: quick, quickly <Late Latin praestus (adj.) ready, Latin praestō (adv.) at hand

Words nearby presto

prestige, prestige pricing, prestigious, prestissimo, prest money, presto, presto chango, Preston, Prestonpans, prestore, prestress
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to presto

fast, instantaneous, magic, rapidly, suddenly

Example sentences from the Web for presto

British Dictionary definitions for presto

presto
/ (ˈprɛstəʊ) /

adjective, adverb

music to be played very fast

adverb

immediately, suddenly, or at once (esp in the phrase hey presto)

noun plural -tos

music a movement or passage directed to be played very quickly

Word Origin for presto

C16: from Italian: fast, from Late Latin praestus (adj) ready to hand, Latin praestō (adv) present
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