vibrato

American  

[vi-brah-toh, vahy-] / vɪˈbrɑ toʊ, vaɪ- /

noun

Music.

plural

vibratos

1. a pulsating effect, produced in singing by the rapid reiteration of emphasis on a tone, and on bowed instruments by a rapid change of pitch corresponding to the vocal tremolo.

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vibrato British  

/ vɪˈbrɑːtəʊ /

noun

1. a slight, rapid, and regular fluctuation in the pitch of a note produced on a stringed instrument by a shaking movement of the hand stopping the strings

2. an oscillatory effect produced in singing by fluctuation in breath pressure or pitch

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Etymology

Origin of vibrato

1860–65; < Italian < Latin vibrātus (past participle); see vibrate

Compare meaning

How does vibrato compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• vibrato vs. tremolo

Explanation

You are hearing vibrato in a singer's voice when the pitch wavers up and down, slightly above or below the note being sung. This usually happens when the singer pauses on a note, but not necessarily every time. The Italian word vibrato looks like it's related to the English word vibrate, and it is! Vibration is a movement back and forth, and vibrato is a kind of back-and-forth alteration in the pitch produced by the voice. It's common and very pronounced in operatic singing, but in some styles of singing it's virtually absent. The same effect can be produced by certain instruments. Electric organs usually have a switch for optionally turning on the vibrato.

Example Sentences

After having Goldings and Sullivan play Vibrato last month, along with bassist David Piltch and singer India Carney, Jiffry says he cannot wait to have them back soon.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2023

Hussain Jiffry, artistic director of Vibrato Grill Jazz, says he has been a fan of Goldings for many years but hadn’t seen this show prior to booking the two.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2023

A small crowd gathered at the Vibrato Grill Jazz club here in the Bel Air neighborhood at 6 p.m. for Mr. Redstone’s 92nd birthday celebration a year ago.

From New York Times • May 14, 2016

Vibrato was never eradicated, but never the norm.

From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2015

Vibrato, vē-br�′tō, n. a pulsating effect in vocal music, caused by rapid variation of emphasis on the same tone.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various