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obbligato

adjective
ob·​bli·​ga·​to | \ ˌä-blə-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce obbligato (audio) \

Definition of obbligato

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: not to be omitted : obligatory —used as a direction in music — compare ad libitum

obbligato

noun
plural obbligatos also obbligati\ ˌä-​blə-​ˈgä-​tē How to pronounce obbligati (audio) \

Definition of obbligato (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an elaborate especially melodic part accompanying a solo or principal melody and usually played by a single instrument a song with violin obbligato
2 : accompaniment sense 2b especially : an attendant background sound
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Examples of obbligato in a Sentence

Noun

 with the babble of the brook as an obbligato, we enjoyed our picnic

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 The long orchestral introduction left no doubt as to where composer Stephenson’s interests lay, the work’s first two movements amounting to symphonic statements with bass trombone obbligato. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, "CSO review: Orchestra's soloists step into the spotlight," 14 June 2019 The aria is enhanced by trumpet and oboe obbligatos, which were handled deftly by trumpeter Steve Marquardt and oboist Debra Nagy. — Special To The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com, "Apollo's Fire plays to its many strengths in vivid adaptation of Handel's 'Israel in Egypt' (review)," 16 Oct. 2017 The orchestra's alert accompaniment was at one with the pianist's purposes, as was Stefan Ragnar Hoskuldsson's dulcet flute obbligato in the opening movement. — John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Soloists save the day in CSO's all-Mozart program," 9 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obbligato.' 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 obbligato

Adjective

1740, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for obbligato

Adjective

borrowed from Italian, "obligatory, essential to a musical composition," from past participle of obbligare "to require (someone to do something), oblige," going back to Latin obligāre — more at oblige

Noun

derivative of obbligato entry 1

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More from Merriam-Webster on obbligato

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with obbligato

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for obbligato

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about obbligato

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