solo

[soh-loh]

noun

plural

solos, soli 

1. a musical composition or a passage or section in a musical composition written for performance by one singer or instrumentalist, with or without accompaniment.

   She sang a solo.

2. any performance, as a dance, by one person.

3. a flight in an airplane during which the pilot is unaccompanied by an instructor or other person.

   I'll be ready for my first solo next week.

4. a person who works, acts, or performs alone.

   He used to sing with a quartet, but now he's a solo.

5. a person who performs or accomplishes something without the usual equipment, tools, etc.

6. Informal.,  an announcement, commercial offering, etc., made to only one person or a selected group of such persons.

   Each month the firm sends a solo to its best customers.

7. Cards.,  any of certain games in which one person plays alone against others.

adjective

1. Music.,  performing alone.

   a part for solo bassoon.

2. performed alone; not combined with other parts of equal importance; not concerted.

3. alone; without a companion or partner.

   a solo flight.

adverb

1. on one's own; alone or unaccompanied.

   After six lessons he was flying solo.

verb (used without object)

soloed, soloing 

1. to perform or do a solo.

   to solo on the trumpet.

2. to pilot a plane, glider, etc., unaccompanied, especially for the first time.

   After the course the students should be able to solo.

3. to perform or accomplish something by oneself.

verb (used with object)

soloed, soloing 

1. to pilot (a plane, glider, etc.) unaccompanied.

2. to allow (a student pilot) to pilot a plane, glider, etc., alone.

   The instructor decided to solo the student.

solo

/ ˈsəʊləʊ /

noun

1. a musical composition for one performer with or without accompaniment

2. any of various card games in which each person plays on his own instead of in partnership with another, such as solo whist

3. a flight in which an aircraft pilot is unaccompanied

4. 1. any performance, mountain climb, or other undertaking carried out by an individual without assistance from others

   2. ( as modifier )

      a solo attempt

adjective

1. music unaccompanied

   a sonata for cello solo

adverb

1. by oneself; alone

   to fly solo

verb

1. (intr) to undertake a venture alone, esp to operate an aircraft alone or climb alone

Word History and Origins

Origin of solo¹

1685–95; < Italian < Latin sōlus alone

Word History and Origins

Origin of solo¹

C17: via Italian from Latin sōlus alone, _sole ¹

Example Sentences

“Essentially back then it was a solo pursuit,” said Bunker, who estimates that he now has between 400 and 500 apple varieties on his land.

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The first film, which the Osbourne family helped produce and actively participated in, follows the singer during his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2024.

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In 2023, Lodge released a solo album that he said represented a reimagining of “Days of Future Passed.”

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He had completed 19 challenges, though twice he hiked it solo, once when Covid canceled the 2020 event and another time when he missed the actual day.

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German software giant SAP ditched its dual-CEO model in the pandemic after less than six months; CEO Christian Klein has run the company solo since.

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