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obbligato

ob·bli·ga·to [ ˌä-blə-ˈgä-(ˌ)tō]

obbligato

noun

plural obbligatos also obbligati\ ˌä-blə-ˈgä-tē \

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

obbligato

adjective

Definition of obbligato

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

Synonyms & Antonyms for dainty

Synonyms: Noun

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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

Dictionary Entries near obbligato

More Synonyms and Antonyms ofobbligato

Synonyms of obbligato

something that is found along with something else

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

Synonyms for obbligato

Words Related to obbligato