toccata

[ tuh-kah-tuh; Italian tawk-kah-tah ]
/ təˈkɑ tə; Italian tɔkˈkɑ tɑ /

noun, plural toc·ca·tas, toc·ca·te [tuh-kah-tee; Italian tawk-kah-te] /təˈkɑ ti; Italian tɔkˈkɑ tɛ/. Music.

a composition in the style of an improvisation, for the piano, organ, or other keyboard instrument, intended to exhibit the player's technique.

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Origin of toccata

1715–25; < Italian: “touched,” feminine past participle of toccare touch

Words nearby toccata

toby, toby jug, toc, toc h, tocantins, toccata, toch, tocharian, tocher, tochis, tockley
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for toccata

British Dictionary definitions for toccata

toccata
/ (təˈkɑːtə) /

noun

a rapid keyboard composition for organ, harpsichord, etc, dating from the baroque period, usually in a rhythmically free style

Word Origin for toccata

C18: from Italian, literally: touched, from toccare to play (an instrument), touch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012