allegro

[ uh-ley-groh, uh-leg-roh; Italian ahl-le-graw ]

adjective

1. brisk or rapid in tempo.

noun

, plural al·le·gros.

1. an allegro movement.

allegro

/ -ˈlɛɡ-; əˈleɪɡrəʊ /

adjective

1. (to be performed) quickly, in a brisk lively manner

noun

1. a piece or passage to be performed in this manner

allegro

1. A brisk, lively musical tempo . Allegro is Italian for “cheerful.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of allegro¹

1625–35; < Italian < Latin alacer brisk. alacrity

Word History and Origins

Origin of allegro¹

C17: from Italian: cheerful, from Latin alacer brisk, lively

Example Sentences

Gasping for air like I just completed a grand allegro combination.

From Literature

They brought dynamic agility to the opening allegro of No. 8 — Watkins’s cello sneaking up and pouncing into fizzy bursts of violin.

From Washington Post

Each ballet spills over with energetic steps, but old as it is, “The Dream,” with more fluidity in its ever-whirling, fleet-footed petite allegro, remains the more modern of the two.

From New York Times

The opening allegro found him moving the orchestra from state to state: here liquid, there solid as stone.

From Washington Post

Or at least the “molto allegro” style with which this composer is often associated.

From New York Times