noun
sonata
suh-NAH-tuh
noun
1
A piece of instrumental music, often for piano or piano with one other instrument, written in several contrasting movements.
"She performed a Beethoven piano sonata at the recital."
"He is composing a sonata for violin and piano."
How to Use Sonata
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classical music piece, usually for one or two instruments, split into several movements.
Common pairings
piano sonata
violin sonata
compose a sonata
Word Forms
sonatas plural
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She performed a Beethoven piano _____ at the recital.
Etymology
From Italian sonata, "something played" (as opposed to a cantata, "something sung"), from sonare, "to sound" — ultimately from Latin sonare.