Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

tacet

musical direction
Save Word
ta·​cet | \ ˈtā-sət How to pronounce tacet (audio) , ˈta-sət How to pronounce tacet (audio) ; ˈtä-ˌket How to pronounce tacet (audio) \

Definition of tacet

—used as a direction in music to indicate that an instrument is not to play during a movement or long section

First Known Use of tacet

circa 1724, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for tacet

Latin, literally, (it) is silent, from tacēre to be silent — more at tacit

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about tacet

Time Traveler for tacet

Time Traveler

The first known use of tacet was circa 1724

See more words from the same year

Statistics for tacet

Cite this Entry

“Tacet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tacet. Accessed 28 Feb. 2020.

More from Merriam-Webster on tacet

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with tacet

Comments on tacet

What made you want to look up tacet? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

coax

Listen to the pronounciation of coax

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

February 2020 Words of the Day Quiz

  • squirrel in winter
  • Which is a synonym of probity?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games