piano

Meaning

Noun

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

Verb

1. To play the piano.
2. To move (the fingers) up and down on, similar to the motions of a pianist playing the piano.
3. To equip with a piano.

Adv

softly, as a musical direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music)

Adj

1. Soft, quiet.
2. Gentle, soft, subdued.

Verb

To become softer and less intense.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/piˈænoʊ/

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, and plane.

Sentences

I learned a lot by studying piano books that had chord charts .