piano

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

pi·​a·​no pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō 

: at a soft volume : soft

—used as a direction in music

piano

2 of 2

noun

pi·​ano pē-ˈa-(ˌ)nō 

also

-ˈä- 

plural pianos

: a musical instrument having steel wire strings that sound when struck by felt-covered hammers operated from a keyboard

Examples of piano in a Sentence

Noun

Do you play the piano?

He takes piano lessons on Wednesdays.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The library launched 126 years ago when a frequent La Jolla visitor, Florence Sawyer, donated a cottage at Wall Street and Gerard Avenue plus $1,000 worth of books and a piano to the La Jolla Reading Club. —Michael Williams, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2025

Jazz influences: Herbie Hancock, Kamasi Washington, Norah Jones, Keith Jarrett Ashley Henry With Henry, a vocalist/pianist/band leader primarily pounding away on the keys at the piano, this masterful album mostly carries the feel of a traditional jazz ensemble. —Steve Baltin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025

The Musical Excellence Award will go to rock piano great Nicky Hopkins and Philadelphia soul-music mainstay Thom Bell, both deceased, and to bass guitar great Carol Kaye, who — at 90 — is this year’s oldest living honoree. —George Varga, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025

The track features Palmer on piano, Reggie Hamilton on bass, and Joey Waronker on drums. —Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb or adjective

Italian, from Late Latin planus smooth, from Latin, level — more at floor

Noun

Italian, short for pianoforte, from gravicembalo col piano e forte, literally, harpsichord with soft and loud; from the fact that its tones could be varied in loudness

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1683, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1772, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing piano

• forte-piano
• grand piano
• mezzo piano
• piano accordion
• piano bar
• piano hinge
• player piano
• stride piano
• thumb piano
• upright piano

Rhymes for piano

• cyano

Kids Definition

piano

1 of 2 adverb or adjective

pi·​a·​no pē-ˈän-ō 

: in a soft or quiet manner

—used as a direction in music

piano

2 of 2 noun

pi·​ano pē-ˈan-ō 

plural pianos

: a musical instrument consisting of a large frame holding steel wire strings that sound when struck by felt-covered hammers which are operated from a keyboard

pianist

pē-ˈan-əst

ˈpē-ə-nəst

noun

Etymology

Noun

from Italian piano "a keyboard musical instrument," a shortened form of pianoforte, from piano "soft" and forte "loud"; so called because, unlike earlier keyboard instruments, it could be played with varying degrees of loudness

Biographical Definition

Piano

biographical name

Pi·​a·​no pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō 

Renzo 1937–     Italian architect