fioritura

[ fee-awr-i-too r-uh, -ohr-; Italian fyaw-ree-too-rah ]
/ fiˌɔr ɪˈtʊər ə, -ˌoʊr-; Italian ˌfyɔ riˈtu rɑ /

noun, plural fio·ri·tu·re [fee-awr-i-too r-ey, -ohr-; Italian fyaw-ree-too-re] /fiˌɔr ɪˈtʊər eɪ, -ˌoʊr-; Italian ˌfyɔ riˈtu rɛ/. Music.

the ornamentation of a melody, often extemporized by the performer, as in Italian opera during the 18th century.

Origin of fioritura

1835–45; < Italian, equivalent to fiorit(o) flowery, orig. past participle of fiorire to flower + -ura -ure

Words nearby fioritura

finzi, fiona, fionn, fiord, fiorin, fioritura, fippenny bit, fipple, fipple flute, fiqh, fir

Example sentences from the Web for fioritura

  • Fioritura means embroidery, while cantabile means "song-like."

    Chopin and Other Musical Essays |Henry T. Finck

  • Their songs were low and musical, not unlike the song of the canary, though there were no cadenzas or fioritura passages.

    The Dawn of Reason |James Weir

  • Valentine's prayer, if given, was so overlaid with fioritura that I did not feel sure of it.

    Julia Ward Howe |Laura E. Richards

British Dictionary definitions for fioritura

fioritura
/ (ˌfjɔːrɪˈtʊərə, ˌfiːərɪ-) /

noun plural -ture (-ˈtʊəreɪ)

music embellishment, esp ornamentation added by the performer

Word Origin for fioritura

Italian: a blossoming