rubato

American  

[roo-bah-toh, roo-bah-taw] / ruˈbɑ toʊ, ruˈbɑ tɔ /

adjective

1. having certain notes arbitrarily lengthened while others are correspondingly shortened, or vice versa.

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noun

PLURAL

rubatos, rubati

1. a rubato phrase or passage.

2. a rubato performance.

adverb

1. in a rubato manner.

rubato British  

/ ruːˈbɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. flexibility of tempo in performance

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adjective

1. to be played with a flexible tempo

Etymology

Origin of rubato

1880–85; < Italian ( tempo ) rubato stolen (time), past participle of rubare to steal < Germanic; rob

Example Sentences

I told them, ‘Is there a way we can find space for rubato, pianissimo, glissando — all of that — so we can really play in the music?’

From Los Angeles Times

The team dubbed this phenomenon “rubato”—a musical term denoting a subtle change in tempo.

From Science Magazine

His rubato breathes naturally yet energetically; there’s a vitality and sense of forward motion even in slower pieces.

From New York Times

That nimble versatility also made for fluid shifts between limpid precision and alluring rubato, between concerto virtuosity and the recital-like intimacy with which he opened the famous 18th Variation.

From New York Times

It relies on this sense of timing and rubato that’s pretty hard to get even with an entire orchestra.

From New York Times