piano — a large musical instrument with a keyboard and strings that are struck by hammers when keys are pressed
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a large musical instrument with a keyboard and strings that are struck by hammers when keys are pressed
Pronunciation (IPA): /piˈænoʊ/
Example Sentences
- My neighbor practices piano at 6 AM every morning - I'm becoming a classical music expert against my will!
- She started learning piano when she was five years old.
- The piano in the old house was so out of tune, it sounded like a cat walking on the keys.
piano
NOUN[/piˈænoʊ/]
a large musical instrument with a keyboard and strings that are struck by hammers when keys are pressed
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Italian pianoforte, a compound of piano (soft, quietly) and forte (loud, strongly). The name emphasized the instrument's revolutionary ability to vary volume dynamically based on the force applied to the keys, distinguishing it from earlier keyboard instruments with fixed dynamics.
Breakdown
piano- (soft, quiet, from Latin pianissimus) + -forte (loud, strong, from Latin fortis). The compound pianoforte was eventually shortened to piano in English usage.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My neighbor practices piano at 6 AM every morning - I'm becoming a classical music expert against my will!”
“She started learning piano when she was five years old.”
“The piano in the old house was so out of tune, it sounded like a cat walking on the keys.”
“He dreams of owning a grand piano someday.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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