ob·bli·ga·to
ˌä-blə-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō
: not to be omitted : obligatory
—used as a direction in music
compare ad libitum
plural obbligatos also obbligati
ˌä-blə-ˈgä-tē
1
: an elaborate especially melodic part accompanying a solo or principal melody and usually played by a single instrument
a song with violin obbligato
2
: accompaniment sense 2b
especially
: an attendant background sound
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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