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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

piano en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /paɪˈænə/ (nonstandard, obsolete)
  • /piˈænɪː/ (US, dated, dialectal)
  • /piˈænəʊ/ (UK)
  • /paɪˈænoʊ/ (nonstandard, obsolete)
  • /piˈænoʊ/ (Canada, US)
  • /ˈpjænəʊ/ (UK)
  • /piˈænə/ (US, dated, dialectal)
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Clipping 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, plane, and plan.

Meanings

  1. 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.
    • Bukharin's examples illustrate the level of his reasoning, as when he tells us that the dependence of art on social conditions is proved by the fact that no one can play the piano if there are no pianos. 1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume III: The Breakdown, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozkład (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 61:
    • 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.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pianoes Number=Plur archaic lexicographic
pianos Number=Plur lexicographic

Coordinates

clavichord · fortepiano · organ · cembalo · synth · synthesizer · harpsichord

Deriveds

giraffe piano · pianistic · piano bench · piano four hands · player piano · piano accordion · virtual piano · nonpiano · cottage piano · pianette · pianophile · barrel piano · stride piano · straight piano · dumb piano · piano keys · pyramid piano · piano fingers · piano stool · pianocentric · steam piano · square piano · pianoist · cabinet piano · pianistics · pianola · Rhodes piano · pianica · pianist · pianolike · piano-forte · upright piano · prepared piano · pianomania · piano roll · electric piano · piano-polish · finger piano · piano plate · boudoir piano · piano maker · piano polish · Jewish piano · pianism · Chicago piano · grand piano · piano player · baby grand piano · piano-violin · thumb piano · reproducing piano · piano wire · pianoless · honky-tonk piano · digital piano · piano bar · floor piano · toy piano · street piano · pianologue

Synonyms

pianoforte

Translations (139)

bn পিয়ানো (a keyboard musical instrument) · cy perdoneg (a keyboard musical instrument) · ru роя́ль (a keyboard musical instrument) · sh кла̀вӣр (a keyboard musical instrument) · bem icinanda class 7 (a keyboard musical instrument) · ga pianó (a keyboard musical instrument) · bo རྣོ་སྦྲེང (a keyboard musical instrument) · mr पियानो (a keyboard musical instrument) · nv biwooʼ hólóní (a keyboard musical instrument) · yi קלאַוויר (a keyboard musical instrument) · mt pjanu (a keyboard musical instrument) · chr ᏗᏂᏤᎷᎯᏍᎩ (a keyboard musical instrument) · zu iPiyano (a keyboard musical instrument) · hi पियानो (a keyboard musical instrument) · it piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · az piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · et klaver (a keyboard musical instrument) · nl piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · qu yatana qallwa (a keyboard musical instrument) · el κλειδοκύμβαλο (a keyboard musical instrument) · nv dilní náníltąshígíí (a keyboard musical instrument) · cy piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · lad pyano (a keyboard musical instrument) · fi piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · hu zongora (a keyboard musical instrument) · udm рояль (a keyboard musical instrument) · hrx Piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · co pianuforte (a keyboard musical instrument) · scn pianuforti (a keyboard musical instrument) · eu piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · ko 피아노 (a keyboard musical instrument) · tk roýal (a keyboard musical instrument) · ur پِیانو (a keyboard musical instrument) · pl pianino (a keyboard musical instrument) · tk pianino (a keyboard musical instrument) · mi piana (a keyboard musical instrument) · mk пија́но (a keyboard musical instrument) · ml പിയാനോ (a keyboard musical instrument) · pdt Piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · km ប៉្យាណូ (a keyboard musical instrument) · lv klavieres (a keyboard musical instrument) · nb piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · az pianino (a keyboard musical instrument) · yi פּיאַנע (a keyboard musical instrument) · kpv зонгорӧ (a keyboard musical instrument) · ka ფორტეპიანო (a keyboard musical instrument) · cmn 鋼琴 /钢琴 (a keyboard musical instrument) · cs břinkotruhla (a keyboard musical instrument) · sw kinanda (a keyboard musical instrument) · ar بِيَانُو (a keyboard musical instrument) · ka პიანინო (a keyboard musical instrument) · fi flyygeli (a keyboard musical instrument) · ms piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · mn төгөлдөр хуур (a keyboard musical instrument) · vo pianod (a keyboard musical instrument) · ca piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · yue 鋼琴 /钢琴 (a keyboard musical instrument) · it pianoforte (a keyboard musical instrument) · hy դաշնամուր (a keyboard musical instrument) · uz pianino (a keyboard musical instrument) · fr piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · pt piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · lo ປີອາໂນ (a keyboard musical instrument) · kk күйсандық (a keyboard musical instrument) · af klavier (a keyboard musical instrument) · eo piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · ta கின்னரப்பெட்டி (a keyboard musical instrument) · lt fortepijonas (a keyboard musical instrument) · frr klawiar (a keyboard musical instrument) · tg пианино (a keyboard musical instrument) · nan-hbl 鋼琴 /钢琴 (a keyboard musical instrument) · ngh klafirsi (a keyboard musical instrument) · cs piáno (a keyboard musical instrument) · da klaver (a keyboard musical instrument) · sv piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · tl piyano (a keyboard musical instrument) · kl klaveri (a keyboard musical instrument) · he פְּסַנְתֵּר (a keyboard musical instrument) · id piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · sk klavír (a keyboard musical instrument) · nah pianotli (a keyboard musical instrument) · hi महावाद्य (a keyboard musical instrument) · de Klavier (a keyboard musical instrument) · sl klavir (a keyboard musical instrument) · my စန္ဒရား (a keyboard musical instrument) · acw بِيانو (a keyboard musical instrument) · az royal (a keyboard musical instrument) · de Flügel (a keyboard musical instrument) · ta பியானோ (a keyboard musical instrument) · pnb پیانو (a keyboard musical instrument) · ru пиани́но (a keyboard musical instrument) · la clavile (a keyboard musical instrument) · ru фортепиа́но (a keyboard musical instrument) · cs klavír (a keyboard musical instrument) · ky пианино (a keyboard musical instrument) · bg пиа́но (a keyboard musical instrument) · scn chianuforti (a keyboard musical instrument) · pl fortepian (a keyboard musical instrument) · sq piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · hy դաշնակ (a keyboard musical instrument) · gl piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · pa ਪਿਆਨੋ (a keyboard musical instrument) · mn ᠲᠡᠭᠦᠯᠳᠡᠷ ᠬᠤᠭᠤᠷ (a keyboard musical instrument) · chr ᎤᏔᏅ ᏗᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ (a keyboard musical instrument) · kw piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · be фартэпія́на (a keyboard musical instrument) · az fortepiano (a keyboard musical instrument) · ro Pno. (a keyboard musical instrument) · is píanó (a keyboard musical instrument) · mg valihavata (a keyboard musical instrument) · ar مِعْزَف (a keyboard musical instrument) · iso ịpiano (a keyboard musical instrument) · za ganghginz (a keyboard musical instrument) · mk кла́вир (a keyboard musical instrument) · nrf piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · gd piàno (a keyboard musical instrument) · de Piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · ja ピアノ (a keyboard musical instrument) · ti ፒያኖ (a keyboard musical instrument) · el πιάνο (a keyboard musical instrument) · ro pian (a keyboard musical instrument) · kk фортепиано (a keyboard musical instrument) · uk фортепіа́но (a keyboard musical instrument) · ug پيانىنو (a keyboard musical instrument) · am ፒያኖ (a keyboard musical instrument) · sw piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · is slagharpa (a keyboard musical instrument) · sh klàvīr (a keyboard musical instrument) · th เปียโน (a keyboard musical instrument) · io piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · vi dương cầm (a keyboard musical instrument) · kmr piyano (a keyboard musical instrument) · tr piyano (a keyboard musical instrument) · es piano (a keyboard musical instrument) · lt pianinas (a keyboard musical instrument) · is fortepíanó (a keyboard musical instrument) · fa-ira پِیانو (a keyboard musical instrument) · ast pianu (a keyboard musical instrument) · co pianu (a keyboard musical instrument)

wikidata: Q5994

piano en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • /paɪˈænə/ (nonstandard, obsolete)
  • /piˈænɪː/ (US, dated, dialectal)
  • /piˈænəʊ/ (UK)
  • /paɪˈænoʊ/ (nonstandard, obsolete)
  • /piˈænoʊ/ (Canada, US)
  • /ˈpjænəʊ/ (UK)
  • /piˈænə/ (US, dated, dialectal)
  • (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Clipping 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, plane, and plan.

Meanings

  1. To play the piano.
    • John Ashbery, Kenneth Koch, Arnold Weinstein, and others came to the house, taping their poems as I pianoed and zithered and drummed away. 2008, John Gruen, Callas Kissed Me...Lenny Too!, page 138:
    • 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! 1978, Bertha Harris, Confessions of Cherubino, page 96:
    • We guitared and drummed and head banged and pianoed. 2020, Becky Manawatu, Auē, page 139:
    • Anyhow I pianoed to my own ear, and had no thought at that time for an audience. 1967, Harry F. Chaplin, A McCrae Miscellany, page 41:
  2. (of or with fingers) To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano.
    • “Jean, it ain't right how you separated those two,” he said, and pianoed the little coffin with his fingers, tapping out his grievance. 2017, Kim Michele Richardson, The Sisters of Glass Ferry:
    • Holly pianoed her fingers over her throat. 2021, Emilya Naymark, Hide in Place:
    • He just stared at her, leaned back in his chair and pianoed his fingers along the tablecloth. 2013, Ann Blair Kloman, A Diamond to Die For, page 29:
    • The superintendent pianoed his fingers on the surface of a nearby desk. 2020, Simon Lelic, The Search Party:
  3. To equip with a piano.
    • Other buildings will also be erected and pianoed by the same architect. 1889, The Engineering Record, Building Record and Sanitary Engineer, page 128:
    • A tabernacle has been built, burnt, rebuilt, electric lighted, organed, pianoed, and frequently filled — all during the last two years. 1892, The Japan Daily Mail - Volume 18, page 772:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pianoed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pianoed Tense=Past lexicographic
pianos Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
pianoing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

piano en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpjɑːnəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /piˈænoʊ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /piˈɑnoʊ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /piˈɑːnəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian piano.

Meanings

  1. Soft, quiet.
  2. (in extended use) Gentle, soft, subdued.
    • ‘Tradecraft, Chris,’ Enderby put in, who liked his bit of jargon, and Martindale, still piano, shot him a glance of admiration. 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society, published 2010, page 160:
    • “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 piano for me[…]” 1817 (date written), [Jane Austen], chapter XVIII, in Persuasion; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume IV, London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more piano Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most piano Degree=Sup lexicographic

piano en · ADV · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpjɑːnəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /piˈænoʊ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /piˈɑnoʊ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /piˈɑːnəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian piano.

Meanings

  1. Softly, as a dynamic in a piece of music.
    • (abbreviation) p

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more piano Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most piano Degree=Sup lexicographic

Relateds

pp · mp · mezzo piano · pianissimo

Translations (13)

it piano (music: softly) · pt piano (music: softly) · ro piano (music: softly) · cmn 輕柔地 /轻柔地 (music: softly) · sk piano (music: softly) · ja ピアノ (music: softly) · ga pianó (music: softly) · ru пиа́но (music: softly) · de piano (music: softly) · fi piano (music: softly) · is veikur (music: softly) · es piano (music: softly) · fi hiljaa (music: softly)

piano en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpjɑːnəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /piˈænoʊ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /piˈɑnoʊ/ (Canada, General-American)
  • /piˈɑːnəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian piano.

Meanings

  1. 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." 1839, Rosina Doyle Bulwer afterwards Bulwer Lytton (Baroness Lytton.), Cheveley; Or, The Man of Honour, page 385:
    • A day pianoed, swelled acutest, pianoed. 2009, David Lau, Virgil and the Mountain Cat, page 61:
    • His tone pianoed on intimacy. 2000, David R. Beasley, Aspects of Love: Three novellas, page 83:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pianoing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pianoed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
pianoed Tense=Past lexicographic
pianos Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic