bel canto

[ bel kan-toh, -kahn-; Italian bel kahn-taw ]
/ ˌbɛl ˈkæn toʊ, -ˈkɑn-; Italian bɛl ˈkɑn tɔ /

noun Music.

a smooth, cantabile style of singing.

Origin of bel canto

1890–95; < Italian: literally, fine singing, equivalent to bel (cognate with beau) + canto (see canto)

Words nearby bel canto

bejewelled, bekaa, bekhterev, bel, bel and the dragon, bel canto, bel esprit, bel paese, bel-esprit, bel., bela

British Dictionary definitions for bel canto

bel canto
/ (ˈbɛl ˈkæntəʊ) /

noun

music
  1. a style of singing characterized by beauty of tone rather than dramatic power
  2. (as modifier)a bel canto aria

Word Origin for bel canto

C19: Italian, literally: beautiful singing