Word
piccolo
Phoneticspic·co·lo
US/ˈpɪkəˌɫoʊ/
UK/pɪkˈɒləʊ/
Definition
n. a small flute that sounds one octave higher than a regular flute. It is the highest-pitched instrument in most orchestras.
n. a small, high-pitched woodwind instrument, approximately half the size of a standard flute and sounding an octave higher. Typically constructed from wood or metal and played in the same transverse manner as the flute.
Examples
“The piccolo plays the highest notes in the band.”
“During the march, the sharp, bright sound of the piccolo was clearly audible above the rest of the woodwind section.”
“While the flute provides a lyrical middle voice, the piccolo is often reserved for piercing, virtuosic passages that require a distinct brilliance to cut through a full orchestral texture.”
Examples
simple
“The piccolo plays the highest notes in the band.”
contextual
“During the march, the sharp, bright sound of the piccolo was clearly audible above the rest of the woodwind section.”
complex
“While the flute provides a lyrical middle voice, the piccolo is often reserved for piercing, virtuosic passages that require a distinct brilliance to cut through a full orchestral texture.”
Usage
Takes a plural form 'piccolos'; occasionally 'piccoli' in very formal or Italianate musical contexts.
Etymology
From Italian piccolo (“small”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/piccolo