virtuoso

[ vur-choo-oh-soh ]

noun

, plural vir·tu·o·sos, vir·tu·o·si [vur-choo-, oh, -see].

1. a person who has special knowledge or skill in a field.
2. a person who excels in musical technique or execution.
3. a person who has a cultivated appreciation of artistic excellence, as a connoisseur or collector of objects of art, antiques, etc.
4. Obsolete. a person who has special interest or knowledge in the arts and sciences; scientist; scholar.

adjective

1. Also vir·tu·os·ic [] of, relating to, or characteristic of a virtuoso:

   a virtuoso performance.

virtuoso

/ ˌvɜːtjʊˈɒsɪk; ˌvɜːtjʊˈəʊzəʊ; -səʊ /

noun

1. a consummate master of musical technique and artistry
2. a person who has a masterly or dazzling skill or technique in any field of activity
3. a connoisseur, dilettante, or collector of art objects
4. obsolete.
   a scholar or savant
5. modifier showing masterly skill or brilliance

   a virtuoso performance

Derived Forms

• virtuosic, adjective
• ˌvirtuˈosity, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of virtuoso¹

1610–20; < Italian: versed, skilled < Late Latin virtuosus virtuous

Word History and Origins

Origin of virtuoso¹

C17: from Italian: skilled, from Late Latin virtuōsus good, virtuous; see virtue

Example Sentences

As someone who hardly slowed down since he first picked up the trumpet in his early teens and became a standout in the jazz scene of the ’60s, the jazz virtuoso would finally come of age at 32 with this album.

From Washington Post

I’ll give you one from “Scenario,” which is a virtuoso, astounding piece of pure writing.

From Washington Post

The guitar virtuoso also allegedly lent a van to a band that is performing throughout the United Kingdom to protest restrictions.

From Washington Post

At 12, he founded his first group, the Band Busters, which played on radio and at dances and included 14-year-old clarinet virtuoso Buddy DeFranco, who became a major jazz star.

From Washington Post

Featuring 84 regional artists and juried by virtuoso local printmaker Susan Goldman, the show is available only online, both as individual artworks and a virtual walk-through.

From Washington Post

What results is a kind of mashup concert, a virtuoso mixed-media DJ set tuned to a keen emotional pitch.

From The Daily Beast

Jazz is a very high-virtuoso level of music to play for a percussionist.

From The Daily Beast

Well, that was a virtuoso performance by Chris Christie yesterday.

From The Daily Beast

“Those who are virtuoso full-time boycotters should not talk about boycotts,” Druckman said.

From The Daily Beast

It was a show of epic length with an overstocked lake of new members, all virtuoso players who blazed through the hits.

From The Daily Beast

An undoubted violin of any period of this great master's make, is well worthy the attention of the virtuoso.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of the concerto the applause was generous enough to satisfy the most exacting virtuoso.

From Project Gutenberg

The prince performed the operation, and repeated it three times, in presence of the virtuoso.

From Project Gutenberg

"But an ordinary hermit wouldn't be able to play like a virtuoso," objected Amy.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a pleasant-looking young man, good-hearted, enthusiastic, and a gifted virtuoso.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• magician
• musician
• prodigy