alto
/ˈæl.təʊ/ · noun
Meaning
- A musical part or section higher than tenor and lower than soprano, formerly the part that performed a countermelody above the tenor or main melody.
- A person or musical instrument that performs the alto part.
- An alto saxophone.
- A surname.
- A census-designated place in Marin County, California, United States.
- initialism of air launch to orbit.
Etymology / origin
Borrowed from Italian alto (“high”). Doublet of old.
- alto(Italian)→
- *h₂el- (grow)(ine-pro)→
- alto (English)
- Relations: root, bor
Related words
Descendant words
- alt(Polish) (cog)
Sources
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