Definition of Decrescendo

1. Noun. (music) a gradual decrease in loudness.

Exact synonyms: Diminuendo
Generic synonyms: Softness
Category relationships: Music

2. Verb. Grow quieter. "The music decrescendoes here"
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Diminish, Fall, Lessen
Antonyms: Crescendo

3. Adjective. Gradually decreasing in volume.
Exact synonyms: Diminuendo
Similar to: Decreasing

Definition of Decrescendo

1. a. & adv. With decreasing volume of sound; -- a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign.

Definition of Decrescendo

1. Noun. (music) An instruction to play gradually more softly. ¹

2. Verb. (music) To gradually become quieter ¹

3. Adjective. becoming quieter gradually. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Decrescendo

1. [n -DOS]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Decrescendo

decrepit
decrepitate
decrepitated
decrepitates
decrepitating
decrepitation
decrepitations
decrepitaton
decrepitatons
decrepitly
decrepitness
decrepitude
decrepitudes
decrepity
decrescendi
decrescendo (current term)
decrescendoed
decrescendoing
decrescendos
decrescent
decrescents
decretage
decretages
decretal
decretals
decretion
decretist
decretists
decretive
decretorial

Literary usage of Decrescendo

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. German Orthography and Phonology: A Treatise with a Word-list by George Hempl (1897)
"Crescendo, decrescendo, and Equal Stress 275. ... 1) The prevailing stress of old Germanic was decrescendo. A study of the old poetry shows that of two or ..."

2. The British Quarterly Review by Robert Vaughan, Henry Allon (1869)
"Requiem Mass, but I do know lie wrote the " Confutatis." ' What a scene ! and what a decrescendo !' About the year 1832 he was asked by a Spanish friend to ..."

3. The New American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by George Ripley (1859)
"decrescendo, in music, a direction to the performer to decrease the volume of sound from loud to soft. It is marked thus > : DECURIONES, magistrates in the ..."

4. Musical Interpretation, Its Laws and Principles, and Their Application in by Tobias Matthay (1913)
"L T» iiif .ii i. decrescendo. Let me give you an example of both points: spite of In Chopin s first Prelude we have a figure with such unaccented ending: ..."

5. Practical Hints and Helps for Perfection in Singing by Luisa Cappiani (1908)
"PERSPECTIVE SINGING—decrescendo.—As in the formation of the vowel sound i (with the Italian pronunciation of ee), drawing the cheek muscles (laughing ..."

6. A catechism for the harmonium by John Hiles (1877)
"Crescendo and decrescendo. Q. What is the meaning of these terms ? A. A stronger pressure upon the treadle makes the tongues sound more vigorously and with ..."

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