bravo

1 of 4

noun (1)

bra·​vo ˈbrä-(ˌ)vō 

plural bravos or bravoes

: villain, desperado

especially : a hired assassin

bravo

2 of 4

noun (2)

bra·​vo ˈbrä-(ˌ)vō 

brä-ˈvō

plural bravos

: a shout of approval

—often used interjectionally in applauding a performance

bravo

3 of 4

verb

bra·​vo ˈbrä-(ˌ)vō 

brä-ˈvō

bravoed; bravoing

transitive verb

: to applaud by shouts of bravo

Bravo

4 of 4

communications code word

Bra·​vo ˈbrä-(ˌ)vō 

—used as a code word for the letter b

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Italian, from bravo brave

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1600, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1806, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1732, in the meaning defined above

Communications Code Word

1952, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bravo

1 of 2 noun

bra·​vo ˈbräv-ō 

plural bravos or bravoes

: villain sense 2, desperado

especially : a hired assassin

bravo

2 of 2 noun

bra·​vo ˈbräv-ō 

brä-ˈvō

plural bravos

: a shout of approval

—often used to applaud a performance