leggiero

American  

[le-jer-oh] / ˌlɛˈdʒɛr oʊ /

adjective

1. light and delicate.

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adverb

1. with a light, delicate touch.

noun

1. a passage to be played with a light, delicate touch, or an instance of this way of playing.

Etymology

Origin of leggiero

First recorded in 1840–45; from Italian, obsolete spelling of leggero “light, delicate”; cf. legerity ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

leggiero

The pianist's sonorities reached deep into the keys without turning hard or clattery, while the evenness of his leggiero playing was a joy to the ear.

From Chicago Tribune ● Feb. 18, 2011

It is a sort of soprano leggiero with a small range of superficial feelings.

From How to Listen to Music, 7th ed. Hints and Suggestions to Untaught Lovers of the Art by Krehbiel, Henry Edward