noun

piano

PYA-noh

noun

A large keyboard instrument in which pressing keys causes hammers to strike strings, producing sound.

"She practices piano for an hour every evening."

"The piano in the living room hasn't been tuned in years."

adv

Quietly; a musical direction meaning to play softly.

"The score marks this passage piano, then builds to a loud finish."

How to Use Piano

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe keyboard instrument with hammers and strings, or a musical instruction to play softly.

Common pairings

play the piano grand piano piano lessons

Word Forms

more piano comparative, more piano comparative, pianoed past tense, pianoed past tense, pianos plural, pianoes plural, Pianos plural, pianos singular, pianos singular, most piano superlative, most piano superlative

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She practices _____ for an hour every evening.

Etymology

Shortened from pianoforte, Italian for "soft-loud," from piano ("soft") and forte ("strong/loud") — named for its ability to vary volume, unlike the harpsichord.

Rhymes for piano

Ano mano kano yano Sano Tano guano Deano Amano Ayano Asano gitano

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