# alto

/ˈæɫtoʊ/ (US) · /ˈæltəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/alto
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. singing voice

noun · CEFR B2

a singing voice that is lower than a soprano but higher than a tenor.

For teachers: the second-highest vocal part in a standard four-part choral arrangement, typically sung by women with lower voices or men using falsetto.

- She has a beautiful alto voice that sounds very rich in the lower notes.
- The composer assigned the haunting counter-melody to the alto section, creating a dense harmonic texture beneath the soprano lead.

### 2. musical instrument

noun · CEFR B2

a musical instrument that plays in the alto range, such as a specific type of saxophone or flute.

For teachers: an instrument that is pitched in the range between soprano and tenor within its specific family.

- He plays the alto saxophone in the school jazz band.
- The orchestration requires an alto flute to provide a darker, more breathy timbre during the introductory passage.

### 3. alto saxophone

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a common short name for the alto saxophone.

For teachers: a colloquial clipping for the alto saxophone, the most common member of the saxophone family used in classical and jazz contexts.

- I need to buy new reeds for my alto before the concert tonight.
- While he started his career on the tenor, he eventually became famous for his virtuosic command of the alto.

## Examples

- She sings alto in the school choir.
- The conductor asked the alto section to hold their notes longer during the final chorus.
- In Renaissance polyphony, the alto voice often weaves intricate counter-melodies that bridge the gap between the soaring soprano and the grounding bass.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.