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

Randy Newman as himself Given the onscreen tribute to wildfire victims, survivors, and first responders that the show closed Episode 4 with, seeing Newman play the piano at the end of Deborah’s first late-night show was particularly touching. —Emma Specter, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025

There's an eclectic mix of jazz, big sweeping orchestral pieces, high energy electric guitars, and quiet, somber piano tunes. —Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

Dueling pianos and 'Dirty Dancing': This is MSC's most American ship yet How much does MSC Yacht Club cost? —Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025

And Delroy Lindo as piano and harmonica blues musician Delta Slim. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 18 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