scordatura

noun

scor·​da·​tu·​ra
ˌskȯ(r)dəˈtu̇rə
plural scordature
-u̇rā
or scordaturas
: an unusual tuning of a stringed musical instrument for some special effect

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from scordato (past participle of scordare to be out of tune, from Latin discordare to disagree, be out of tune) + -ura -ure (from Latin)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near scordatura

Cite this Entry

“Scordatura.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scordatura. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!