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ricercare

American  
[ree-cher-kahr-ey, ree-cher-kah-re] / ˌri tʃərˈkɑr eɪ, ˌri tʃɛrˈkɑ rɛ /

noun

plural

ricercari

  1. ricercar.

ricercare British  
/ ˌriːtʃəˈkɑːreɪ, ˈriːtʃəˌkɑː /

noun

  1. an elaborate polyphonic composition making extensive use of contrapuntal imitation and usually very slow in tempo

  2. an instructive composition to illustrate instrumental technique; étude

"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 ricercare

< Italian, noun use of ricercare to seek; see research

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.

From there, variations surface with nods to Classical and Baroque forms: a dancerly minuet or rondo, a concerto grosso of angular strings, a wandering ricercare.

From New York Times • May 25, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.