Piano
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
piano¹
- /ˈpjænəʊ/ UK
- /piˈænəʊ/ UK
- /piˈænoʊ/ Canada, US
- /piˈænɪː/ US, dated, dialectal
- /piˈænə/ US, dated, dialectal
- /paɪˈænoʊ/ nonstandard, obsolete
- /paɪˈænə/ nonstandard, obsolete
Where it comes from
Clipping of pianoforte, from Italian pianoforte, from piano (“soft”) + forte (“strong”). So named because it could produce a wide range of varied volumes note-by-note, in contrast to older keyboard instruments, notably the harpsichord. Doublet of llano, plain, plane, and plan.
noun pianos · pianoes
- A percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings. The piano in his house takes up a lot of space.
verb pianos · pianoing · pianoed
- To play the piano. Anyhow I pianoed to my own ear, and had no thought at that time for an audience.
- To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano. He just stared at her, leaned back in his chair and pianoed his fingers along the tablecloth.
- To equip with a piano. Other buildings will also be erected and pianoed by the same architect.
piano²
- /piˈɑːnəʊ/ UK
- /ˈpjɑːnəʊ/ UK
- /piˈænoʊ/ Canada, US
- /piˈɑnoʊ/ Canada, US
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Italian piano.
adverb more piano · most piano
- Softly, as a dynamic in a piece of music. (abbreviation) p
adjective more piano · most piano
- Soft, quiet.
- Gentle, soft, subdued. “Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick[…]that soft sort of manner does not do him justice.”[…] “Well, well, ladies are the best judges; but James Benwick is rather too piano for me[…]”
verb pianos · pianoing · pianoed
- To become softer and less intense. “You know, Mrs. Wrigglechops,” pianoed Miss Drucilla , even more meekly and mildly than before, "the ace is either one or eleven."
Piano³
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Italian Piano.
proper noun Pianos
- A surname from Italian.
