capriccio

C2 Topic:Art & Music

US /kəˈpriː.tʃiː.oʊ/ UK /kəˈpriː.tʃiː.əʊ/ See IPA manual

Freq #183084

Meanings

1

noun
music: a lively, freely formed instrumental composition with a fanciful or improvisatory character

The pianist ended the recital with a brilliant capriccio in a rapid minor key.
2

noun
art and architecture: an imaginative composition that combines real and invented features, especially a fanciful architectural landscape

The painter's capriccio placed Roman ruins beside an imaginary Venetian canal.
3

noun
rare: a fanciful whim, prank, or playfully fantastic effect

The flirtation acquired the theatrical capriccio flavor of an improvised comedy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · music: a lively, freely... caprice fantasia

2 noun · art and architecture: an... architectural fantasyfantasy

3 noun · rare: a fanciful whim,... caprice whim caper fancy

Opposites

regularity restraint

Word family

Derived forms capriccietto

Related forms caprice capricious fantasia improvisation

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian capriccio, 'whim, fancy, or bizarre idea.' Its deeper origin is disputed. English specialized it for freely inventive musical pieces and imaginary artistic compositions, while caprice, borrowed through French, became the usual word for a sudden whim.

Topics

Art & Music

External links

# capriccio

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kəˈpriː.tʃiː.oʊ/
**IPA (UK):** /kəˈpriː.tʃiː.əʊ/
**Frequency rank:** 183084

## Meanings
1. music: a lively, freely formed instrumental composition with a fanciful or improvisatory character
2. art and architecture: an imaginative composition that combines real and invented features, especially a fanciful architectural landscape
3. rare: a fanciful whim, prank, or playfully fantastic effect

## Examples
- The pianist ended the recital with a brilliant capriccio in a rapid minor key.
- The painter's capriccio placed Roman ruins beside an imaginary Venetian canal.
- The flirtation acquired the theatrical capriccio flavor of an improvised comedy.

## Synonyms
- caprice
- fantasia
- architectural fantasy
- whim

## Antonyms
- regularity
- restraint

## Derived Forms
- capriccietto

## Related Forms
- caprice
- capricious
- fantasia
- improvisation

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian capriccio, 'whim, fancy, or bizarre idea.' Its deeper origin is disputed. English specialized it for freely inventive musical pieces and imaginary artistic compositions, while caprice, borrowed through French, became the usual word for a sudden whim.

## Topics
- Art & Music

markdown