segno

1 9.9

A mark in music that shows where to go back to when you repeat a section

noun
/ˈsɛɡnoʊ/

Specialized

: segno

Each time the segno appears, players know they must repeat the previous sections of the song.

Examples

And if I'm correct... ...the segno is hidden on page number--

Angels & Demons (2009)
If I can find the segno, the sign... ...that marks the beginning of that path, the four churches along it... ...may be where he intends to murder your cardinals.

Angels & Demons (2009)
In the sheet music, the segno indicates where to return and repeat that section.
The conductor pointed to the segno to signal the musicians to start again from that point.

Antonyms

unmarked

12 4.8

Not noticed or celebrated by other people

Surface Forms

segno singular

segni plural

Etymology

The word segno comes from Italian segno 'sign' and from the Latin signum, the same root as English sign and signal. In music it acts like a road sign telling players where to 'go back' or 'repeat', so a segno marks the place to return to.