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

piano (plural pianos)

1. (musical instruments) a percussive 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

   Coordinate terms: cembalo, clavichord, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, synthesizer, synth

   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.

• French: piano
• German: Klavier ; Piano ; Flügel
• Italian: pianoforte, piano
• Portuguese: piano
• Russian: пиани́но
• Spanish: piano

piano (pianos, present participle pianoing; simple past and past participle pianoed)

1. To play the piano.
2. (of or with fingers) To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano.
3. To equip with a piano.

From Italian piano.

• (America, Canada) IPA: /piˈɑnoʊ/, /piˈænoʊ/
• (RP) IPA: /piˈɑːnəʊ/

piano (not comparable)

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

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

piano

1. (music) Soft, quiet.
2. (in extended use) Gentle, soft, subdued.
   • 1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XVIII, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume IV, London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC ↗:

     “Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick […] that soft sort of manner does not do him justice.” […]
     “Well, well, ladies are the best judges; but James Benwick is rather too piano for me […] ”

   • 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 160:

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

piano (pianos, present participle pianoing; simple past and past participle pianoed)

1. To become softer and less intense.

Borrowed from Italian Piano.

1. Surname.