legato

Pronunciation: /ləˈɡɑ.toʊ/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. adjective (music) without breaks between notes; smooth and connected
  2. adverb connecting the notes; in music

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian legato, past participle of legare (“to tie up, tie together, to bind”), learned borrowing from Latin ligō (“tie, bind”). Doublet of ligate.

Synonyms

smooth

Semantic network

Opposite (antonyms)
staccato

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