Meaning & use
pizzicatos
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“pizzicatos” is a form of “pizzicato”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalmusic
Notes or passages played by plucking the strings of a violin, cello, or similar instrument instead of using the bow.
Grammar: Countable: one pizzicato, two pizzicatos; it can also be used as an adverb or adjective without a plural form.
Patterns
- play pizzicatos
- a passage of pizzicatos
- the pizzicatos in a movement
The violins open the movement with soft pizzicatos under the clarinet.
She practiced the pizzicatos until every plucked note sounded even.
The conductor asked for sharper pizzicatos in the final bars.
Word forms
| singular | pizzicato |
|---|
Common combinations
- play pizzicatos
- The cellists play pizzicatos during the quiet section.
- soft pizzicatos
- Soft pizzicatos in the strings create a mysterious mood.
- a series of pizzicatos
- A series of pizzicatos leads into the main theme.
- pizzicato passage
- The pizzicato passage is harder than it sounds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- plucking
- Plucking is the general everyday word for pulling a string with the finger; pizzicato is the technical music term for this playing style.
Opposites
Word family
- pizzicato adverb
- Played by plucking the strings: the passage is marked pizzicato.
Practice
In the score, the composer asks the strings to play a few quiet ______ before the flute enters.
Choose one answer.
Pizzicatos is the usual English plural of pizzicato. Pizzicatoes is not a real form, pizzicati is Italian rather than normal English, and pizzicato's is a possessive, not a plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pizzicatos”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.