solo
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.
any performance, as a dance, by one person.
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.
a person who works, acts, or performs alone: He used to sing with a quartet, but now he's a solo.
a person who performs or accomplishes something without the usual equipment, tools, etc.
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.
Cards. any of certain games in which one person plays alone against others.
Music. performing alone: a part for solo bassoon.
performed alone; not combined with other parts of equal importance; not concerted.
alone; without a companion or partner: a solo flight.
on one's own; alone or unaccompanied: After six lessons he was flying solo.
to perform or do a solo: to solo on the trumpet.
to pilot a plane, glider, etc., unaccompanied, especially for the first time: After the course the students should be able to solo.
to perform or accomplish something by oneself.
to pilot (a plane, glider, etc.) unaccompanied.
to allow (a student pilot) to pilot a plane, glider, etc., alone: The instructor decided to solo the student.
Origin of solo
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use solo in a sentence
I've transcribed some of his solos for teaching my students at the University of Indiana.
There are even sound pieces that combine everything from piano solos to archived recordings.
But on campus, one was mostly shielded from music made of a mixture of terrible hairspray and worse guitar solos.
The Return of the Replacements: Here Comes a Regular | Elizabeth Wurtzel | September 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTTargeted to: Fanatic Randy Jackson fans, people who live for bass solos, Paul McCartney.
I rather regret now that I did not play my solos, but perhaps it is just as well to leave them until another time.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
Then came two pieces by the orchestra; next, my three solos in a row, and a symphony of Haydn closed the programme.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayThey would n't let you sing solos at St. Paul's Church if you did n't sing well—so!
Polly of the Hospital Staff | Emma C. DowdHe composed a toy symphony, which included solos on every noisy plaything at that time manufactured for children's use.
After Dark | Wilkie CollinsIn a few months we hear of his playing solos at Brabandt's aristocratic concerts.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 12 | Elbert Hubbard
British Dictionary definitions for solo
/ (ˈsəʊləʊ) /
plural -los or -li (-liː) a musical composition for one performer with or without accompaniment
any of various card games in which each person plays on his own instead of in partnership with another, such as solo whist
a flight in which an aircraft pilot is unaccompanied
any performance, mountain climb, or other undertaking carried out by an individual without assistance from others
(as modifier): a solo attempt
music unaccompanied: a sonata for cello solo
by oneself; alone: to fly solo
(intr) to undertake a venture alone, esp to operate an aircraft alone or climb alone
Origin of solo
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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