crescendo

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /kɹɪˈʃɛn.dəʊ/, /kɹəˈʃɛn.dəʊ/
• (America) IPA: /kɹɪˈʃɛn.doʊ/, /kɹəˈʃɛn.doʊ/

Noun

crescendo (plural crescendos)

1. (music) An instruction to play gradually more loudly, denoted by a long, narrow angle with its apex on the left ( < ), by musicians called a hairpin.
2. (figuratively) A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.

   Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo.

3. (figuratively, nonstandard) The climax of a gradual increase.

   Their arguing rose to a fearsome crescendo.

Antonyms

• (music) decrescendo, diminuendo
• (the climax of a gradual increase) climax, conclusion

Translations

• German: Crescendo
• Italian: crescendo
• Portuguese: crescendo
• Russian: креще́ндо
• Spanish: crescendo

Translations

• Italian: crescendo
• Spanish: crescendo

Verb

crescendo (crescendoes, present participle crescendoing; past and past participle crescendoed)

1. To increase in intensity; to reach or head for a crescendo.

   The band crescendoed and then suddenly went silent.

Adverb

crescendo (not comparable)

1. (music) Gradually increasing in force or loudness.

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