crescendo

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a gradual increase in loudness, in music

   The sonata ended with a fantastic crescendo.

2. 2
   verb

   to grow louder

   The music crescendoes here.

3. 3
   noun

   A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.

   Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo.

4. 4
   noun

   The climax of a gradual increase.

   Their arguing rose to a fearsome crescendo.

Borrowed from Italian crescendo, gerund of crescere (“to grow, to increase”).

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