allegro

noun
al·​le·​gro | \ ə-ˈle-(ˌ)grō How to pronounce allegro (audio) , -ˈlā- How to pronounce allegro (audio) \
plural allegros

Definition of allegro

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a musical composition or movement in allegro tempo

Definition of allegro (Entry 2 of 2)

: at a brisk lively tempo used as a direction in music

Examples of allegro in a Sentence

Noun

The symphony's first movement is an allegro.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

At each stage of class—the barre exercises, the serene adagio movements, and allegro jumps from petit to grande—there’s a code, a recipe, literal steps to doing things well. Matt Ortile, SELF, "Whenever My Life Feels Out of Control, I Go to Ballet Class," 16 Aug. 2018 Capping the extended allegro giusto finale, Mr. Morris reverses the configuration. Robert Greskovic, WSJ, "A Troupe From Florida and a Piscine World Premiere," 15 Aug. 2018 The first movement is a dramatic sonata-allegro form, and Kuan’s deft handling of the many tempo changes enhanced the sense of sense of inevitable progression built into the music. Jessica Rudman, courant.com, "HSO Plays A Superb Shostakovich Program To Two Standing Ovations," 5 May 2018 In the carefree allegro section, tuba races against chattering trumpets. Peter Dobrin, Philly.com, "Is John Williams the next Kendrik Lamar? His Philadelphia Orchestra visit made us think, why not?," 19 Apr. 2018 Music director Eric Jacobsen drew out the rhythmic accents of the allegro first movement. Matthew J. Palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Classical music is stuffy, you say? Not in Central Florida," 8 Apr. 2018 At Aimard’s resolute tempo, the opening allegro carried an elemental energy that swept all before it. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Pianist Aimard illuminates works of genius from different musical eras," 7 Mar. 2018 So too did the artists bring out the Mendelssohnian grace of the allegro molto from Opus 8, the imitative figures bouncing from one instrument to the next. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Yo-Yo Ma and friends prove their mastery in Brahms; MOB ventures rare Handel oratorio," 28 Feb. 2018 The ballerina role remains one of the peaks of allegro bravura. Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, "Balanchine’s ‘Square Dance’ Speaks Ballet With an American Accent," 30 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'allegro.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of allegro

Noun

1683, in the meaning defined above

Adverb or adjective

circa 1721, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for allegro

Adverb or adjective

Italian, merry, from Vulgar Latin *alecrus lively, alteration of Latin alacr-, alacer

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More Definitions for allegro

allegro

noun

English Language Learners Definition of allegro

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a piece of music that is played or performed in a quick and lively way

allegro

adverb

English Language Learners Definition of allegro (Entry 2 of 2)

music : in a quick and lively way