staccatos

Variant of staccato

staccato definition

stac·cato (stə kät′ō)

adjective

  1. Musical Direction with distinct breaks between successive tones: usually indicated by a dot (staccato mark) placed over or under each note to be so produced
  2. made up of abrupt, distinct elements or sounds a staccato outburst of gunfire

Etymology: It, pp. of staccare, aphetic for distaccare, to detach < di(s)- (< L, dis-) + Frank *stakka: see stick

adverb

so as to be staccato; in a staccato manner

noun pl. staccatos -·tos

something, as a speech pattern, that is staccato

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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