falsetto Hear it!

falsetto definition

fal·setto (fôl set′ō)

noun pl. falsettos -·tos

  1. an artificial way of singing or speaking, in which the voice is placed in a register much higher than that of the natural voice
  2. the voice used in such singing, esp. by tenors, usually having a soft, colorless quality
  3. a person singing or speaking in falsetto
    also falsettist fal·set′·tist

Etymology: It, dim. of falso, false < L falsus, false

adjective

of or singing in falsetto

adverb

in falsetto

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

falsetto Synonyms

falsetto

n.

artificially high-pitched voice, countertenor, treble, soprano, voce di testa (Italian), unnatural register, head register, shrillness, affectation.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

falsetto Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • sing: I faced situations like: ' Do not sing, you sing falsetto, be silent!

Adjective modifier

  • high: There's nothing wrong with it but Queens have a little bit more like Josh singing a high falsetto.

Modifies a noun

  • vocal: We've even got Bono with a Disco falsetto vocal.

Noun used with modifier

  • trademark: Warp's Jamie Lidell co-wrote several of the tracks and lends his trademark falsetto to one.
falsetto usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

falsetto quotes

Asked by the chairmantheusual question: 'Iunderstand, Mr Strachey, that you have a conscientious objection to war?' hereplied (inhis curiousfalsettovoice),'Ohno, not at all, only to this war.'Better thanthiswashisreply tothe chairman's other stock question, which had previously never failed to embarrass the claimant.'Tell me, Mr Strachey, what would youdoif yousawa Germansoldier trying to violate your sister?' With an air of noble virtue: 'I would try to get between them.'

-Strachey, (Giles) Lytton

falsetto quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Link to this page:

Cite this page:

MLA Style

"falsetto." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/falsetto>

APA Style

falsetto. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/falsetto

Comments:

Please or Register to post a comment