English has borrowed a number of words from Italian that instruct on how a piece of music should be played. Examples include "allegro" ("at a brisk lively tempo"), "adagio" ("at a slow tempo"), and "fortissimo" ("very loud"). The instruction "staccato" describes music composed of tones that are short and noncontinuous rather than smoothly flowing together (a style noted by the instruction "legato"). Staccato derives from the past participle of the Italian verb staccare, meaning "to detach," and can now describe anything - not just sounds - made, done, or happening in an abrupt or disjointed way.
Example Sentences
the staccato blasts of a horn
Recent Examples on the WebThe song opens with waves of ‘80s synth and staccato bursts of Police-style guitar, then segues into a crunchy power-pop chorus that Billy Corgan might have scripted. Daniel De Visé, SPIN, 13 Sep. 2022 Still, the final minutes dragged out at a staccato pace as a series of shot-clock glitches jolted the game to consecutive halts. Julia Poe, chicagotribune.com, 27 Mar. 2022 As Fanny's right-hand man Eddie Ryan, Jared Grimes (A Soldier's Play) makes staccato magic with his tap shoes, and only a deadened soul could stay entirely cold when the jazz hands and headdress feathers start flying. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2022 David Hardy’s cello was a special highlight, drawing a beautiful singing line over a staccato repeat of the main theme.Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2022 Bloom has rapid, staccato ideas, vivid and bright, rapidly shooting out in all directions. Jeffrey Meyers, WSJ, 21 Jan. 2022 The next is to try to keep from falling flat on your face as Beal dances from full-speed dribbles to sudden stops, crossing and countering and pump faking in a staccato rhythm. Julia Poe, chicagotribune.com, 8 Jan. 2022 Court documents tell a staccato story of his childhood and teenage years. Evan Allen, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Dec. 2021 To shoot an arrow the length of more than 20 football fields defies traditional notions of archery, says Martin, beginning a staccato tutorial. Patrick Cooke, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Nov. 2021 See More
Word History
Etymology
Italian, from past participle of staccare to detach, from s- ex- (from Latin ex-) + attaccare to attack, attach, perhaps from Old French estachier — more at attach