Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Legato

‖

Le-ga′to

(lā̍-gä′tō̍)
,
Adj.
[It., tied, joined, fr.
legare
to tie, bind, L.
ligare
.]
(Mus.)
Connected; tied; – a term used when successive tones are to be produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner. It is often indicated by a tie, thus [GREEK], [GREEK], or [GREEK], [GREEK], written over or under the notes to be so performed; – opposed to
staccato
.

Definition 2024

legato

legato

See also: légato

English

Adverb

legato ‎(not comparable)

  1. (music) Smoothly, in a connected manner.
    Play this passage legato not portato.

Antonyms

Translations

Noun

legato ‎(plural legatos)

  1. (music) A slur curve above or below a passage of notes indicating that they should be played in a legato manner.

Translations

Anagrams

Esperanto

Noun

legato ‎(accusative singular legaton, plural legatoj, accusative plural legatojn)

  1. singular present nominal passive participle of legi

French

Noun

legato m ‎(plural legatos)

  1. legato

Italian

Verb

legato

  1. past participle of legare

Adjective

legato m ‎(feminine singular legata, masculine plural legati, feminine plural legate)

  1. awkward, stiff
  2. linked, connected, tied
  3. close, attached, involved

Noun

legato m ‎(plural legati)

  1. legate
  2. legacy, bequest, background

Derived terms

Anagrams

Latin

Noun

lēgātō

  1. dative singular of lēgātus
  2. ablative singular of lēgātus

Participle

lēgātō

  1. dative masculine singular of lēgātus
  2. dative neuter singular of lēgātus
  3. ablative masculine singular of lēgātus
  4. ablative neuter singular of lēgātus

Etymology

Borrowing from Italian legato, past participle of legare ‎(“to tie up, tie together, to bind”), learned borrowing from Latin ligō ‎(“tie, bind”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) enPR: lə-gäʹtō, IPA(key): /ləˈɡɑ.təʊ/
  • (US) enPR: lə-gäʹtō, IPA(key): /ləˈɡɑ.toʊ/
  • Rhymes: -ɑːtəʊ
  • Hyphenation: le‧ga‧to

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