vibrato

[ vi-brah-toh, vahy- ]
/ vɪˈbrɑ toʊ, vaɪ- /

noun, plural vi·bra·tos. Music.

a pulsating effect, produced in singing by the rapid reiteration of emphasis on a tone, and on bowed instruments by a rapid change of pitch corresponding to the vocal tremolo.

Origin of vibrato

1860–65; < Italian < Latin vibrātus (past participle); see vibrate

Example sentences from the Web for vibrato

British Dictionary definitions for vibrato

vibrato
/ (vɪˈbrɑːtəʊ) /

noun plural -tos music

a slight, rapid, and regular fluctuation in the pitch of a note produced on a stringed instrument by a shaking movement of the hand stopping the strings
an oscillatory effect produced in singing by fluctuation in breath pressure or pitch
Compare tremolo

Word Origin for vibrato

C19: from Italian, from Latin vibrāre to vibrate