pizzicato
adjective/ˌpɪtsɪˈkɑtoʊ/
Frequency rank: #19,706 most common English word
Meaning
A direction in music to pluck the strings of a bowed instrument instead of using the bow.
Example sentence
The cellist shifted to pizzicato technique, plucking the strings softly during the quiet passage.
Synonyms & related words
Practice this word in the quiz
More words in ranks 19,701–19,800
- blandnessthe quality of being uninteresting, dull, or lacking strong flavor or character.
- collocationa natural combination of words that frequently occur together in a language.
- flavonoidA type of natural plant pigment with antioxidant properties, found in many fruits and vegetables.
- hemostasisThe stopping or slowing of bleeding, whether naturally by the body or through medical intervention.
- minutiaa small, precise, or trivial detail.
- reduplicationthe process of forming a word or phrase by doubling a syllable or word, often with a slight change.
- anthilla mound of earth formed by ants when building their nest underground.
- blastocystAn early-stage embryo consisting of a hollow ball of cells, formed about five days after fertilization.
- braiseto cook food slowly in a small amount of liquid in a covered pot.
- dendriteA short, branched extension of a nerve cell that receives signals from other neurons.