crescendo

¹cre·scen·do

noun \krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō\

plural cre·scen·dos also cre·scen·does or cre·scen·di\-dē\

Definition of CRESCENDO

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

Examples of CRESCENDO

1. The noise rose to a crescendo.
2. <their divorce was merely the formal crescendo of a long period of marital stress and estrangement>

Illustration of CRESCENDO

Origin of CRESCENDO

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

First Known Use: 1775

Related to CRESCENDO

Synonyms

acme, apex, apogee, capstone, climax, height, crest, crown, culmination, head, high noon, high tide, high-water mark, meridian, ne plus ultra, noon, noontime, peak, pinnacle, sum, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

Antonyms

bottom, nadir, rock bottom

Related Words

bloom, blossom, flood tide, flower, glory, heyday, prime; cap, ceiling, roof; extreme, extremity, tip, vertex; high, highlight, highspot

Near Antonyms

abyss, base, foot; minimum

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

²crescendo

adverb or adjective

Definition of CRESCENDO

: with an increase in volume —used as a direction in music

First Known Use of CRESCENDO

1807

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue