Italian Words
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69 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 staccato | marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds |
| ballot | a choice that is made by voting |
| confetti | Multitude of pieces of paper |
| semolina | milled product of durum wheat (or other hard wheat) used in pasta |
| influenza | an acute febrile highly contagious viral disease |
| cavalry | a highly mobile army unit |
| piazza | public square in Italy |
| cadenza | a brilliant solo passage occuring near the end of a piece of music |
| pistachio | nut with a shell |
| spinet | Early harpsichord having only one string for each note |
| cantata | a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text |
| incognito | Not seen |
| vendetta | a feud in which members of the opposing parties murder each other |
| contraband | goods whose importation or exportation or possession is prohibited by law |
| mascara | black eye makeup |
| graffiti | a rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls |
| credenza | a kind of sideboard or buffet |
| parapet | wall like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, or balcony |
| falsetto | a male singing voice with artificially high tones in an upper register |
| ditto | a mark used to indicate the word above it should be repeated |
| provolone | italian cheese |
| extravaganza | any lavishly staged or spectacular entertainment |
| scampi | large shrimp sauteed in oil or butter and garlic |
| belladonna | perennial Eurasian herb with reddish bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries |
| gondola | long narrow flat-bottomed boat propelled by sculling |
| rotunda | a large circular room |
| cauliflower | a plant having a large edible head of crowded white flower buds |
| galleria | a genus of Pyralidae |
| regatta | a meeting for boat races |
| crescendo | A dynamic change in music in which the volume increases |
| balcony | a platform projecting from the wall of a building and surrounded by a balustrade or railing or parapet |
| portfolio | the role of the head of a government department |
| antipasto | a course of appetizers in an Italian meal |
| libretto | the words of an opera or musical play |
| virtuoso | someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field |
| harmonica | a small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing into the desired hole |
| maestro | an artist of consummate skill |
| bravura | brilliant and showy technical skill |
| fresco | a durable method of painting on a wall by using watercolors on wet plaster |
| stucco | a plaster now made mostly from Portland cement and sand and lime |
| inferno | (Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil |
| ballerina | a female ballet dancer |
| malaria | an infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito |
| grotto | a small cave (usually with attractive features) |
| harpsichord | old-fashioned piano used in the 1600s |
| allegro | a brisk and lively tempo |
| virtuosa | Someone who is a genius on their instrument |
| spaghetti | pasta in the form of long strings |
| piccolo | a small flute |
| ravioli | small circular or square cases of dough with savory fillings |
| vibrato | (music) a pulsating effect in an instrumental or vocal tone produced by slight and rapid variations in pitch |
| pesto | sauce from genoa |
| aria | an elaborate song for solo voice |
| bambino | a young child |
| salami | highly seasoned fatty sausage of pork and beef usually dried |
| Parmesan | hard dry sharp-flavored Italian cheese |
| oratorio | a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text |
| finale | the concluding part of any performance |
| scenario | a postulated sequence of possible events |
| contrapuntal | having two or more independent but harmonically related melodic parts sounding together |
| illuminati | enlightened intellects |
| concerto | a composition for orchestra and a soloist |
| macaroni | pasta in the form of slender tubes |
| palmetto | any of several low-growing palms with fan-shaped leaves |
| bandit | an armed thief who is (usually) a member of a band |
| fiasco | a sudden and violent collapse |
| cameo | engraving or carving in low relief on a stone (as in a brooch or ring) |
| sonata | a musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms |
| coloratura | singing with florid ornamentation |
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