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piano

USpee-A-noh/piˈænoʊ/UKPYA-noh/ˈpjænəʊ/
As an adverb or adjectivepee-AH-noh

Pluralpianos

8 meanings of piano

Practice

  1. 1
    keyboard instrumentnouncountable
    A large musical instrument with black and white keys that you press to make sounds.

    Like a row of keys that tap tiny hammers inside to make music when you press them.

    She plays the piano every evening after dinner.

    They bought a secondhand piano for the living room.

    UsageSay play the piano or play piano. Plural: pianos.

    Similarpianoforte

    Note
  2. 2
    softly (marking)adverb
    In a soft, quiet way when playing music.

    Like talking in a near-whisper instead of a loud voice.

    Play this part piano, so it sounds soft and gentle.

    The music begins piano and slowly gets louder.

    UsagePut it after the verb: play it piano.

    Similarsoftly, quietly

    Oppositeforte, loudly

    Note
  3. 3
    soft in soundadjective
    Soft and quiet, like gentle music.

    Like a soft hum instead of a loud shout.

    The singer kept her voice piano, soft and barely there.

    This part of the song is piano, so sing it very softly.

    Similarsoft, quiet, gentle

    Oppositeloud, forte

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Origins

Meanings 1, 4

A short form of pianoforte, from Italian, made from piano ('soft') and forte ('strong').

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  • Piano is a short form of pianoforte, from Italian, combining words meaning 'soft' and 'strong'. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 2–3

From the Italian word piano.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

  • English piano, meaning softly in music, was borrowed from Italian piano. en.wiktionary.org