piano

play

adverb or adjective pi·a·no \pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō\

Definition of piano

: at a soft volume : soft —used as a direction in music

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See piano defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of piano

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

NEW!

First Known Use: 1683

See Words from the same year

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

piano

play

noun pi·ano \pē-ˈa-(ˌ)nō also -ˈä-\

Definition of piano

plural

pianos

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

See piano defined for English-language learners

Examples of piano in a Sentence

Do you play the piano?
He takes piano lessons on Wednesdays.

Origin and Etymology of piano

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

NEW!

First Known Use: 1772

See Words from the same year

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

Piano

play

biographical name Pi·a·no \pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō\

Definition of Piano

Renzo 1937– Italian architect

PIANO Defined for English Language Learners

piano

play

adverb

Definition of piano for English Language Learners

music : quietly or softly

piano

play

noun

Definition of piano for English Language Learners

: a large musical instrument with a keyboard that you play by pressing black and white keys and that produces sound when small hammers inside the piano hit steel wires

PIANO Defined for Kids

piano

play

noun pi·a·no \pē-ˈa-nō\

Definition of piano for Students

plural

pianos

: a keyboard instrument having steel wire strings that make a sound when struck by hammers covered with felt

History for piano

When a harpsichord is played, pressing on the keys causes the strings to be plucked in such a way that loudness and softness cannot be controlled. Around 1700 an Italian instrument maker named Bartolomeo Cristofori invented a mechanism by which the strings of a harpsichord would be struck by felt-covered hammers. This device allowed the performer to play notes with varying degrees of loudness. In Italian this new instrument was called gravicembalo col piano e forte, “harpsichord with soft and loud.” The name was borrowed into English as pianoforte or fortepiano, which was eventually shortened to just piano.