tempo

[ tem-poh ]

noun

, plural tem·pos, tem·pi [tem, -pee].

1. Music. relative rapidity or rate of movement, usually indicated by such terms as adagio, allegro, etc., or by reference to the metronome.
2. characteristic rate, rhythm, or pattern of work or activity:

   the tempo of city life.

3. Chess. the gaining or losing of time and effectiveness relative to one's continued mobility or developing position, especially with respect to the number of moves required to gain an objective:

   Black gained a tempo.

tempo

/ ˈtɛmpəʊ /

noun

1. the speed at which a piece or passage of music is meant to be played, usually indicated by a musical direction ( tempo marking ) or metronome marking
2. rate or pace

tempo

1. In music, the speed at which a piece is performed. It is the Italian word for “time.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempo¹

1680–90; < Italian < Latin tempus time

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempo¹

C18: from Italian, from Latin tempus time

Example Sentences

The basic plan of attack in 2017 was also developed under Obama, although Trump sped up the tempo by changing the rules of engagement.

From Washington Post

Teammates are able to work together, drafting and setting a tempo up the mountain.

From FiveThirtyEight

There are other reasons for the tempo change as well, and not just strategic ones.

From FiveThirtyEight

You don’t have to run at every opportunity to win in college basketball19 — 12 of the last 13 non-UNC men’s national champions have sported adjusted tempos that ranked 100 or below — but Williams insists on doing it anyway.

From FiveThirtyEight

During Williams’s tenure, Carolina has finished in the top 10 in overall adjusted efficiency margin 11 times, and it has played at the fastest tempo among the top 10 nine of those times.

From FiveThirtyEight

Two minutes later, Crown and his brother pulled up to the hospital in their sister’s ‘85 Ford Tempo.

From The Daily Beast

I realized quite early on that it would be different in that respect—a slower tempo.

From The Daily Beast

Turn Up the TunesStudies have found that up-tempo music can make you feel more energetic and put you in a better mood.

From The Daily Beast

At the same time, it has escalated the tempo of aerial bombardment and resumed its scorched earth campaign against civilians.

From The Daily Beast

Rather it is the time to increase the size and tempo of guerrilla attacks even through the coming, bitterly cold Afghan winter.

From The Daily Beast

I don't play anything up to tempo under her—always slow, slow, slow.

From Project Gutenberg

The “Bullier” orchestra will interest you; they play with a snap and fire and a tempo that is irresistible.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the pitch is treated by him as modern notation treats the tempo, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us try if it is not possible to obtain a clearer notion of this mysterious tempo rubato.

From Project Gutenberg

Above all, however, we have to keep in mind that the tempo rubato is a genus which comprehends numerous species.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cadence
• momentum
• pace
• velocity