pianoforte

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the full or historical name for a piano, a keyboard instrument whose hammers strike strings and whose volume varies with the player's touch

   The restored pianoforte had a lighter action and a quieter tone than a modern grand piano.

Borrowed from Italian pianoforte, literally 'soft-loud,' from piano ('softly') + forte ('loudly'). The name reflects the instrument's ability to vary volume with the player's touch, unlike the harpsichord; piano later became the usual shortened form.

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