First Known Use: 1683
Dictionary
1piano
adverb or adjective pi·a·no \pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō\
music : quietly or softly
Full Definition of PIANO
: at a soft volume : soft —used as a direction in music
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Origin of PIANO
Italian, from Late Latin planus smooth, from Latin, level — more at floor
2piano
noun pi·ano \pē-ˈa-(ˌ)nō also -ˈä-\
: 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
plural pianos
Full Definition of PIANO
: 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
Origin 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
First Known Use: 1803
Piano
biographical name Pi·a·no \pē-ˈä-(ˌ)nō\
Definition of PIANO
Renzo 1937– Ital. architect
PIANO Defined for Kids
piano
noun pi·a·no \pē-ˈa-nō\
plural pianos
Definition of PIANO for Kids
: a keyboard instrument having steel wire strings that make a sound when struck by hammers covered with felt
Word History of 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.
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