staccato

[stuh-kah-toh]

adjective

1. shortened and detached when played or sung.

   staccato notes.

2. characterized by performance in which the notes are abruptly disconnected.

   a staccato style of playing.

3. composed of or characterized by abruptly disconnected elements; disjointed.

   rapid-fire, staccato speech.

adverb

1. in a staccato manner.

noun

plural

staccatos, staccati 

1. performance in a staccato manner.

2. a staccato passage.

staccato

/ stəˈkɑːtəʊ /

adjective

1. music (of notes) short, clipped, and separate

2. characterized by short abrupt sounds, as in speech

   a staccato command

adverb

1. (esp used as a musical direction) in a staccato manner

staccato

1. A direction in music meaning that the notes should be performed in an abrupt, sharp, clear-cut manner.

The term staccato has been applied generally to things that occur in rapid bursts, such as gunfire.

Word History and Origins

Origin of staccato¹

1715–25; < Italian: disconnected, past participle of staccare (derivative of stacca pole < Gothic, but taken as a variant of distaccare to detach )

Word History and Origins

Origin of staccato¹

C18: from Italian, from staccare to detach, shortened from distaccare

Example Sentences

There was a kind of rhythm, a fast staccato he could get.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The hours of darkness were once again punctuated by the staccato of air defence guns, buzz of drones and large explosions.

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The band emerged in a flicker of static and staccato strings, accompanied by a lone saxophone, before breaking into Happiness.

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How England survive his staccato approach and educated fingers will go a long way to deciding the series.

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Chase and Ibarra may, for instance, begin a dialogue as nervous chit-chat with staccato flute interjections with drummed responses that soon turn to broad expressions of wonder.

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Related Words

• litany 
• recurrence 
• reiteration 
• repeat 
• rhythm