piano

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Pronunciation

• (America, Canada) IPA: /piˈænoʊ/
• (British) IPA: /piˈænəʊ/

Noun

piano (plural pianos)

1. (musical instruments) a keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings [from 1803]

   Synonyms: pianoforte

   The piano in his house takes up a lot of space.

   She has been taking lessons for many years and now plays piano very well.

   He can play "Happy Birthday" on the piano.

   Most of the works by Frédéric Chopin are for the piano.

   Coordinate terms: cembalo#English|cembalo, clavichord#English|clavichord, fortepiano, harpsichord#English|harpsichord, organ#English|organ, synthesizer#English|synthesizer, synth#English|synth

Translations

• French: piano
• German: Klavier i common; Piano i exalted style; Flügel i grand piano
• Italian: pianoforte, piano
• Portuguese: piano
• Russian: пиани́но
• Spanish: piano

Adjective

piano

1. (music) soft, quiet
2. in extended use; quiet, subdued
   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, page 160:

     ‘Tradecraft, Chris,’ Enderby put in, who liked his bit of jargon, and Martindale, still piano, shot him a glance of admiration.

Pronunciation

• (America, Canada) IPA: /piˈɑnoʊ/
• (British) IPA: /piˈɑːnəʊ/

Adverb

piano (not comparable)

1. (music) softly, as a musical [[direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music)]] [from 17th c.]

Translations

• German: piano
• Italian: piano
• Portuguese: piano
• Russian: пиа́но
• Spanish: piano

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