legato

[ luh-gah-toh; Italian le-gah-taw ]

adjective

, Music.

1. smooth and connected; without breaks between the successive tones.

legato

/ lɪˈɡɑːtəʊ /

adjective

1. to be performed smoothly and connectedly

noun

1. 1. a style of playing in which no perceptible gaps are left between notes
   2. ( as modifier )

      a legato passage

Other Words From

• nonle·gato adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of legato¹

1805–15; < Italian, past participle of legare < Latin ligāre to bind

Word History and Origins

Origin of legato¹

C19: from Italian, literally: bound

Example Sentences

He applied a luscious, pedal-assisted legato to the notes of a melody in the 11th, and slightly detached them in the Ninth.

From New York Times

He didn’t just spin legato lines in the searching, conversational Nocturne; he expounded entire legato paragraphs in an eloquent, unbroken stream of consciousness.

From New York Times

You have to have perfect legato, and perfect breath control, to get through a lot of long phrases.

From New York Times

Alternating between legato and staccato, her tone practically bounced off the harpsichord, and she tumbled gracefully through intricate passagework.

From New York Times

For “Eleanor Rigby,” the Beatles recorded versions of Martin’s backup arrangement with a string octet using lush classical vibrato and legato phrasing, but they wisely chose a brusque, woody attack instead.

From New York Times