pi|a|no

pi|an|o¹ «pee AN oh», noun, plural -os.

a large musical instrument whose tones come from many wires and range over several octaves. The wires are sounded by felt-covered hammers that are worked by striking keys on a keyboard. »

Although the piano is the only true solo instrument among our standard concert instruments, it is the exception, rather than the rule, to find it unaccompanied in modern jazz (New Yorker).

╂[< Italian piano, short for pianoforte]

pi|a|no² «pee AH noh», adjective, adverb, noun, plural -nos. Music.

–adj.

soft; low (used as a direction): »

In piano singing her tone remains pure (London Times).

–adv.

softly.

–n.

a soft passage or movement.

╂[< Italian piano < Latin plānus plain, flat (in Late Latin, smooth, graceful). See etym. of doublets plain¹ (Cf. ↑plain), plane¹ (Cf. ↑plane), plan. (Cf. ↑plan)]