piano
PYA-noh
Piano (noun) means a large keyboard instrument in which pressing keys causes hammers to strike strings, producing sound. Example: “My grandmother taught me to play the piano when I was six years old.”
noun
1
A large keyboard instrument in which pressing keys causes hammers to strike strings, producing sound.
"My grandmother taught me to play the piano when I was six years old."
"She practices piano for an hour every evening."
"The piano in the living room hasn't been tuned in years."
adv
1
Quietly; a musical direction meaning to play softly.
"The conductor asked the strings to play piano so the singer could be heard."
"In this bar of the song, the choir sings piano, almost in a whisper."
"The score marks this passage piano, then builds to a loud finish."
How to use piano
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe keyboard instrument with hammers and strings, or a musical instruction to play softly.
Common pairings
play the piano
grand piano
piano lessons
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Word forms
- Plural
- pianos, pianoes
- Third person singular
- pianos
- Past tense
- pianoed
- Comparative
- more piano
- Superlative
- most piano
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My grandmother taught me to play the _____ when I was six years old.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for piano
See all rhymes for piano →Frequently asked questions
What does “piano” mean?
The word “piano” means a large keyboard instrument in which pressing keys causes hammers to strike strings, producing sound. In plain terms, the keyboard instrument with hammers and strings, or a musical instruction to play softly.
How do you pronounce “piano”?
“Piano” is pronounced PYA-noh (/piˈænoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “piano” in a sentence?
Here is “piano” used in a sentence: “She practices piano for an hour every evening.”
What part of speech is “piano”?
Depending on how it is used, “piano” can be a noun and an adverb.
Where does the word “piano” come from?
The word “piano” comes from Italian. Shortened from pianoforte, Italian for "soft-loud," from piano ("soft") and forte ("strong/loud") — named for its ability to vary volume, unlike the harpsichord.
Is “piano” a common word?
“Piano” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “piano” have?
“Piano” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large keyboard instrument in which pressing keys causes hammers to strike strings, producing sound.
What is the difference between 'piano' and 'forte' in music?
As musical directions, 'piano' (marked p) tells the performer to play softly, while 'forte' (marked f) tells them to play loudly. They sit at opposite ends of the dynamic scale.
What is the difference between 'piano' and 'pianissimo'?
'Piano' (p) means quietly or softly, while 'pianissimo' (pp) means very quietly, an even softer level. Adding more p markings, such as ppp, indicates progressively quieter playing.
What is the difference between a piano and a keyboard?
A piano produces sound acoustically, with keys driving hammers that strike strings. An electronic keyboard generates or samples sound digitally, so it needs power and can imitate many instruments, whereas a piano makes only its own tone.
What is the plural of piano?
The plural is 'pianos.' Although many words ending in -o add -es, 'piano' takes a simple -s, as do other musical terms like 'solos' and 'sopranos.'
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