Main Entry: ¹cre·scen·do

Pronunciation: \krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural cre·scen·dos also cre·scen·does or cre·scen·di \-dē\

Etymology: Italian, from crescendo, adjective, increasing, gerund of crescere to grow, increase, from Latin

Date: 1775

1 a : a gradual increase; specifically : a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage b : the peak of a gradual increase : climax <complaints about stifling smog conditions reach a crescendo — Down Beat>
2 : a crescendo musical passage

— crescendo intransitive verb

[crescendo illustration]