pianoforte
pronunciation
How to pronounce pianoforte in British English:
UK [pɪˌænəʊ'fɔ:tɪ]
How to pronounce pianoforte in American English:
US [piˌænoˈfɔrte, -ˈfɔrti, piˈænoˌfɔrt]
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- Noun:
- a stringed instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
Word Origin
- pianoforte (n.)
- 1767, from Italian, from piano e forte "soft and loud," in full, gravicembalo col piano e forte "harpsichord with soft and loud" (c. 1710), said to have been so named by inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) of Padua because the ability via dampers to vary the tone is one of the main changes from the harpsichord. Italian piano (adj.) ultimately is from Latin planus "flat, smooth, even," later "soft" (see plane (n.1)).
Example
- 1. After dinner you must play for usat the pianoforte .
- 2. Do you play the pianoforte , miss bennet ?
- 3. Do you play the pianoforte , miss bennet ? .