concerto

noun

con·​cer·​to kən-ˈcher-(ˌ)tō 

 also  -ˈchər-

plural concerti kən-ˈcher-(ˌ)tē 

 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

At one moment in the concerto, the soloist—here the brilliant, committed young pianist Jeonghwan Kim—silently depresses a C-major triad with the left hand and then bangs out a C-major triad with the right, so that the lower strings resonate. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

What, then, has led this 2024 San Diego Music Hall of Fame inductee to now record an album version of his concerto? —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

The Rachmaninoff concertos, Mahler’s symphony over and over again, Beethoven’s symphony over and over again. —Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025

The musician also wrote a symphony, a ballet and seven concertos. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from concerto concert

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing concerto

• concerto grosso

Kids Definition

concerto

noun

con·​cer·​to kən-ˈchert-ō 

plural concerti -(ˌ)ē  or concertos

: a piece for one or more soloists and orchestra usually in three movements