Definition of legato
: in a manner that is smooth and connected (as between successive tones)
—used especially as a direction in music
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Origin and Etymology of legato
Italian, literally, tied
Definition of legato
: a smooth and connected manner of performance (as of music);
also
: a passage of music so performed
Recent Examples of legato from the Web
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Jones played the demanding solo part with apparent ease, beauty of tone and, in the Andante, a lovely feel for legato playing, turning a fairly standard-issue slow movement into a noble aria.
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Scott Hostetler traced a melting legato line in the famous English horn solo of the largo, although Muti’s easing the pace later in the slow movement threatened to stifle forward impetus.
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Gerstein’s descending figures might have managed the smoothest legato in the business, and Hagen faced the great stretch of tumult in the first movement with absolute clarity and composure.
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Her Azucena is a creation of soaring high notes, fluttering trills, seductive legato, chilling low tones.
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From my seat the balance favored Ma's fulsome tone by a slight margin; Ax's legato playing sounded a bit watery even with the lid on his Steinway fully opened.
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But there is also comfort: the warmth of the hearth fire, tranquil and legato on the bow; lazy days punctuated only by the pizzicato of ice droplets on the roof.
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This is a two-part skill; his superb legato (or connected articulation) on the keyboard was heightened by skillful deployment of both the sustaining and the soft pedal.
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Still, the legato elegance and vocal weightiness of his singing have their own rewards.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'legato.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of legato
1740
LEGATO Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of legato for English Language Learners
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music : in a manner that is smooth and flowing
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