English

Alternative forms

• obligato

Adjective

obbligato ‎(comparative more obbligato, superlative most obbligato)

1. (music) Designating part of a musical piece which is subordinate to the main melody but still essential; designating a crucial instrumental part. [from 18th c.]

Noun

obbligato ‎(plural obbligatos or obbligati)

1. (music) An obbligato section; a prominent countermelody, often written to be played or sung above the principal theme (in a higher pitch range). [from 19th c.]
   • 1953, Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye, Penguin 2010, p. 281:

     The noise of the traffic outside the building on the boulevard made an unmusical obbligato to my thinking.

Translations

See also

• descant

Italian

Etymology

From Latin obligātus.

Adjective

obbligato m ‎(feminine singular obbligata, masculine plural obbligati, feminine plural obbligate)

1. obliged, compelled, constrained, forced, bound
2. obligatory, unavoidable, forced
3. obliged, indebted
4. fixed, set

   percorso obbligato - fixed course

5. (music) obbligato

Synonyms

• costretto (1)
• vincolato (1)
• imposto (2)
• inevitabile (2)
• obbligatorio (2,4)
• grato (3)
• riconoscente (3)
• fisso (4)

Noun

obbligato m ‎(plural obbligati) feminine obbligata

1. obligator, obligor

Synonyms

• obbligante

Verb

obbligato m ‎(feminine singular obbligata, masculine plural obbligati, feminine plural obbligate)

1. past participle of obbligare

Derived terms

• obbligatoriamente
• obbligatorio
• obbligatorietà

Related terms

• obbligare