rallentando

[ rah-luhn-tahn-doh; Italian rahl-len-tahn-daw ]

adjective

1. slackening; becoming slower (used as a musical direction).

rallentando

/ ˌrælɛnˈtændəʊ /

adjective

1. music becoming slower rall Alsoritardandoritenuto

Word History and Origins

Origin of rallentando¹

1805–15; < Italian, gerund of rallentare to slow down; lento

Word History and Origins

Origin of rallentando¹

C19: Italian, from rallentare to slow down

Example Sentences

Teach yourself to make a rallentando evenly by watching the drops of water cease as you turn off a tap.

From Project Gutenberg

She put into her movements a certain fullness of swing, to bring out the effect which a marked rallentando gives the notes.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a rallentando effect is like the apparent pause in the rush of a river before it thunders over a precipice.

From Project Gutenberg

Or we can gradually increase or decrease our tempo, creating accelerando and rallentando effects.

From Project Gutenberg

I can hear the diminuendo rallentando of the orchestra as the gold dulls, the scarlet fades to rose, the rose to pink.

From Project Gutenberg