piano
- adverb
- /piˈæn.oʊ/
- Specialized
- The composer marked this section piano to create a gentle mood.
Examples
-
The violinist performed the passage piano, allowing the melody to sound delicate and soft.
-
The music was played piano to create a calm atmosphere.
-
Please play the opening bars piano before building to a crescendo.
-
Please play the song piano.
-
The composer marked this section piano to create a gentle mood.
-
Please play the opening bars piano before building to a crescendo.
-
The violinist performed the passage piano, allowing the melody to sound delicate and soft.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Not making much noise
178
1.0
In a quiet, low voice or at low volume
86
1.0
In a gentle way using little force
4
2.8
In music, played very quietly so the sound is almost not heard
To play or sing very softly
Played or sung very softly in music
Antonyms
Compounds
1
4.9
A piece of music for one piano, usually in several parts with different speeds and moods
- Specialized
An early piano from the 18th and early 19th centuries with a lighter, more delicate sound
- Archaic
A piano that plays by itself using a paper roll with holes to move the keys
A musical instrument with a piano-style keyboard for the right hand and buttons for the left hand
- Specialized
The levers and parts inside a piano that make hammers hit strings when you press a key
- Specialized
A small soft pad that rests on a piano string to stop it from vibrating
A group of four musicians, piano, violin, viola and cello, or a piece written for them
- Specialized
A version of music for many instruments arranged for piano that keeps the main tune
- Specialized
Music written for piano that comes from a piece for other instruments like an orchestra
How Loud
Surface Forms
Etymology
As an adverb, piano is the same Italian word for 'soft', so when a score says piano it asks musicians to play softly. That is why piano as an instruction means to perform in a quiet way.