/ˈpjænəʊ/, /piˈænəʊ/, /piˈænoʊ/
OriginClipping of pianoforte, from Italian pianoforte, from piano (“soft”) + forte (“strong”). So named because it could produce a wide range of varied volumes note-by-note, in contrast to older keyboard instruments, notably the harpsichord. Doublet of llano, plain, and plane.
- A percussive keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black colored keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings.
“The piano in his house takes up a lot of space.”
“She has been taking lessons for many years and now plays piano very well.”
- To play the piano.
“Anyhow I pianoed to my own ear, and had no thought at that time for an audience.”
“Who comforted me with Madeleines and lime tea, with whipped cream in my cocoa in far off Ann Arbor while others selfishly fiddled, bassooned, pianoed only for their own ugly self-advancement!”
“John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, Arnold Weinstein, and others came to the house, taping their poems as I pianoed and zithered and drummed away.”
- To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano.
“He just stared at her, leaned back in his chair and pianoed his fingers along the tablecloth.”
““Jean, it ain't right how you separated those two,” he said, and pianoed the little coffin with his fingers, tapping out his grievance.”
“The superintendent pianoed his fingers on the surface of a nearby desk.”
- To equip with a piano.
“Other buildings will also be erected and pianoed by the same architect.”
“A tabernacle has been built, burnt, rebuilt, electric lighted, organed, pianoed, and frequently filled — all during the last two years.”
- To become softer and less intense.
““You know, Mrs. Wrigglechops,” pianoed Miss Drucilla , even more meekly and mildly than before, "the ace is either one or eleven."”
“His tone pianoed on intimacy.”
“A day pianoed, swelled acutest, pianoed.”
- Softly, as a dynamic in a piece of music.
- Soft, quiet.
- Gentle, soft, subdued.
““Oh! yes, yes, there is not a word to be said against James Benwick[…]that soft sort of manner does not do him justice.”[…]
“Well, well, ladies are the best judges; but James Benwick is rather too pia”
“‘Tradecraft, Chris,’ Enderby put in, who liked his bit of jargon, and Martindale, still piano, shot him a glance of admiration.”
Formspianos(plural) · pianoes(archaic, plural) · pianos(present, singular, third-person) · pianoing(participle, present) · pianoed(participle, past) · pianoed(past) · more piano(comparative) · most piano(superlative) · Pianos(plural)