staccato

[ stuh-kah-toh ]
/ stəˈkɑ toʊ /

adjective

shortened and detached when played or sung: staccato notes.
characterized by performance in which the notes are abruptly disconnected: a staccato style of playing. Compare legato.
composed of or characterized by abruptly disconnected elements; disjointed: rapid-fire, staccato speech.

adverb

in a staccato manner.

noun, plural stac·ca·tos, stac·ca·ti [stuh-kah-tee] /stəˈkɑ ti/.

performance in a staccato manner.
a staccato passage.

Origin of staccato

1715–25; < Italian: disconnected, past participle of staccare (derivative of stacca pole < Gothic, but taken as a variant of distaccare to detach)

Example sentences from the Web for staccato

British Dictionary definitions for staccato

staccato
/ (stəˈkɑːtəʊ) /

adjective

music (of notes) short, clipped, and separate
characterized by short abrupt sounds, as in speech a staccato command

adverb

(esp used as a musical direction) in a staccato manner

Word Origin for staccato

C18: from Italian, from staccare to detach, shortened from distaccare

Cultural definitions for staccato

staccato
[ (stuh-kah-toh) ]

A direction in music meaning that the notes should be performed in an abrupt, sharp, clear-cut manner.

notes for staccato

The term staccato has been applied generally to things that occur in rapid bursts, such as gunfire.