English Etymology Short form of pianoforte, from Italian piano (soft) + forte (strong). So named because older keyboard instruments, notably the harpsichord and the clavier, could not produce varied volumes. Usage Piano is now the usual term for the musical instrument. Pianoforte is old-fashioned. Noun A keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging five octaves, with white and black keys. The white keys play one full tone from each other, while the black ones play a semi-tone from the adjacent white. Translations Chinese: 鋼琴 Dutch: piano m French: piano m (on this page) German: Klavier n, Piano n Hebrew: Psanter (פסנתר) (After an unknown musical instrument mentioned in the book of Daniel) Romanian: Pian n Adjective Soft. Used as a dynamic directive in sheet music in its abbreviated form, {p.}, to denote lowering the volume of the music. In the pianoforte this is done by pressing the instrument's keys more lightly. Dutch piano m piano French English: piano (on this page) Italian Adjective English: plane Noun English: plane
Etymology Short form of pianoforte, from Italian piano (soft) + forte (strong). So named because older keyboard instruments, notably the harpsichord and the clavier, could not produce varied volumes. Usage Piano is now the usual term for the musical instrument. Pianoforte is old-fashioned. Noun A keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging five octaves, with white and black keys. The white keys play one full tone from each other, while the black ones play a semi-tone from the adjacent white. Translations Chinese: 鋼琴 Dutch: piano m French: piano m (on this page) German: Klavier n, Piano n Hebrew: Psanter (פסנתר) (After an unknown musical instrument mentioned in the book of Daniel) Romanian: Pian n Adjective Soft. Used as a dynamic directive in sheet music in its abbreviated form, {p.}, to denote lowering the volume of the music. In the pianoforte this is done by pressing the instrument's keys more lightly. Dutch piano m piano French English: piano (on this page) Italian Adjective English: plane Noun English: plane
Adjective English: plane Noun English: plane
