crescendo

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative forms 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Pronunciation 1.4 Noun 1.4.1 Usage notes 1.4.2 Antonyms 1.4.3 Translations 1.5 Verb 2 Czech 2.1 Noun 3 Italian 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Verb 3.3 Noun 3.4 Descendants 4 Swedish 4.1 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative forms

• cresc.
• <

[edit] Etymology

Italian crescendo, gerund of crescere (“‘to grow, to increase’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /kɹɪˈʃɛn.dəʊ/, kɹəˈʃɛn.dəʊ/, SAMPA: /krI"SEn.d@U/, /kr@"SEn.d@U/
• (US) IPA: /kɹɪˈʃɛn.doʊ/, kɹəˈʃɛn.doʊ/, SAMPA: /krI"SEn.doU/, /kr@"SEn.doU/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Hyphenation: cres‧cen‧do

[edit] Noun

crescendo (plural crescendos or crescendi)

1. (music) An instruction to play gradually more loudly, denoted by a long, narrow angle with its apex on the left ( < ).
2. (figuratively) A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.

   Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo.

3. (figuratively, nonstandard) The climax of a gradual increase.

   Their arguing rose to a fearsome crescendo.

[edit] Usage notes

• The musical sense indicates that the figurative sense is an increase rather than the climax of the increase. The use of this word to mean the climax of an increase is nonstandard but commonplace.

[edit] Antonyms

• (music): diminuendo
• (the climax of a gradual increase): climax, conclusion

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to crescendo (third-person singular simple present crescendoes, present participle crescendoing, simple past and past participle crescendoed)

1. To increase in intensity, to reach or head for a crescendo.

   The band crescendoed and then suddenly went silent.

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[edit] Czech

[edit] Noun

crescendo n.

1. (music): crescendo

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[edit] Italian

[edit] Etymology

From Latin crēscendum (“‘increasing, growing’”), gerund of crēscō

[edit] Verb

crescendo

1. (gerund of crescere) growing, increasing

[edit] Noun

crescendo m. (plural crescendi)

1. (music) crescendo
2. (figuratively) crescendo

[edit] Descendants

• English: crescendo
• Spanish: crescendo

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[edit] Swedish

[edit] Noun

Inflection for crescendo	Singular		Plural
neuter	Indefinite	Definite	Indefinite	Definite
Nominative	crescendo	crescendot	crescendon	crescendona
Genitive	crescendos	crescendots	crescendons	crescendonas

crescendo n.

1. (music) crescendo