concerto

noun

con·​cer·​to kən-ˈcher-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce concerto (audio)
 also  -ˈchər-
plural concerti kən-ˈcher-(ˌ)tē How to pronounce concerto (audio)
 also  -ˈchər-
or concertos
: a piece for one or more soloists and orchestra with three contrasting movements
a violin concerto

Examples of concerto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Young pianists in grades K-12 can compete for the first-place prize of a $250 contract to perform one movement of a concerto in a concert with the North Coast Symphony Orchestra on June 14. Encinitas Advocate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025 Tchaikovsky also will be featured at the symphony’s annual gala Sept. 18, where maestro Ryan will conduct Symphony No. 1 and the violin concerto featuring prominent American violinist Gil Shaham. Amy Carleton, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2025 Shih, who is a household name in Canada for her many appearances on radio and TV broadcasts, made her debut at age 9 playing a Mendelssohn concerto with the Seattle Symphony and is currently on the faculty at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 13 Feb. 2025 There’s a Wynton Marsalis concerto starring a tuba. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for concerto

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from concerto concert

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of concerto was in 1710

Cite this Entry

“Concerto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concerto. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

concerto

noun
con·​cer·​to kən-ˈchert-ō How to pronounce concerto (audio)
plural concerti -(ˌ)ē How to pronounce concerto (audio) or concertos
: a piece for one or more soloists and orchestra usually in three movements

More from Merriam-Webster on concerto

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