sfumatura

Italian

Etymology

From sfumare +‎ -tura. Several steps omitting from Latin fūmus.

For the meaning development compare French nuance (from Latin nūbēs).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sfu.maˈtu.ra/
• Rhymes: -ura
• Hyphenation: sfu‧ma‧tù‧ra

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

sfumatura f (plural sfumature)

1. (also painting) gradation, gradient
2. (painting) blurring or softening of the borders of a painting
3. taper or crew cut at the back of the neck
4. (music) slur
5. undertone or implication

   nelle sue parole c'era una certa sfumatura di tristezza

   in his words there was a certain undertone of sadness

Related terms

• sfumato
• sfumare