ottava

adverb or adjective

ot·​ta·​va ō-ˈtä-və How to pronounce ottava (audio)
: at an octave higher or lower than written
used as a direction in music

Word History

Etymology

Italian, octave, from Medieval Latin octava

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ottava was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near ottava

Cite this Entry

“Ottava.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ottava. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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