Alto: meaning, definitions and examples
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alto
[ ˈæl.toʊ ]
music
A musical term referring to the highest male voice or the lowest female voice in a choir, or a musical instrument pitched in the treble range.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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alto |
This term is also used in the context of musical instruments, specifically the alto saxophone and alto flute. These instruments play in the alto range.
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contralto |
This term is used to describe the lowest female singing voice. It is lower than both soprano and alto.
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countertenor |
This term refers to a male singing voice that is unusually high, often singing in the same range as an alto or soprano. It is often heard in classical and operatic music.
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Examples of usage
- She sings in the alto section of the choir.
- The alto saxophone has a rich and warm tone.
geography
A high place or part.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
alto |
Typically used in musical contexts to refer to a voice, instrument, or sound that is in a middle range, above tenor but below soprano.
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summit |
Used to describe the topmost point, especially of a mountain. It can also refer to high-level meetings between leaders or decision-makers.
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peak |
Refers to the highest point of something, often used in relation to mountains or performance metrics (e.g., sales, performance levels). It can also denote a moment in time such as peak hours or peak season.
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Examples of usage
- The village was perched on an alto overlooking the valley.
- The hiking trail led to an alto with panoramic views.
Italian
A musical notation indicating that a passage is to be played in a high register.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
---|---|
alto |
This term is often used in music to refer to a specific vocal range, which is lower than soprano but higher than tenor. Typically associated with female singers.
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high |
Describes something that is elevated in position or stature, not limited to musical contexts. Can refer to physical height, levels, or degrees.
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treble |
Primarily used in music to refer to the higher range of pitches or frequencies. Can also describe the setting on audio equipment that adjusts high-frequency sounds.
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Examples of usage
- The composer marked the passage with an 'alto' to indicate a higher pitch.
Translations
Translations of the word "alto" in other languages:
🇵🇹 alto
- elevado
- superior
🇮🇳 ऊँचा (ooncha)
- उच्च (uccha)
- बड़े (bade)
🇩🇪 hoch
- groß
- laut
🇮🇩 tinggi
- besar
- keras
🇺🇦 високий
- великий
- гучний
🇵🇱 wysoki
- duży
- głośny
🇯🇵 高い (takai)
- 大きい (ookii)
- 大声 (oogoe)
🇫🇷 haut
- grand
- fort
🇪🇸 alto
- grande
- fuerte
🇹🇷 yüksek
- büyük
- yüksek sesli
🇰🇷 높은 (nopeun)
- 큰 (keun)
- 큰 소리 (keun sori)
🇸🇦 عالي (aalee)
- كبير (kabeer)
- مرتفع (murtafi)
🇨🇿 vysoký
- velký
- hlasitý
🇸🇰 vysoký
- veľký
- hlasný
🇨🇳 高 (gāo)
- 大 (dà)
- 大声 (dàshēng)
🇸🇮 visok
- velik
- glasen
🇮🇸 hár
- stór
- hátt
🇰🇿 жоғары
- үлкен
- қатты
🇬🇪 მაღალი (maghali)
- დიდი (didi)
- ხმამაღალი (khmamaghali)
🇦🇿 yüksək
- böyük
- yüksək səslə
🇲🇽 alto
- grande
- fuerte
Etymology
The word 'alto' has its origins in Italian, where it originally meant 'high'. In music, the term came to be used to refer to the high male or low female voice ranges. Over time, it has also been used to describe musical instruments pitched in the treble range. In geography, 'alto' is used to describe high places or parts, such as a mountain peak or summit. The word has evolved to have multiple meanings across different contexts.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #18,647, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.
- ...
- 18644 executioner
- 18645 manning
- 18646 bombarded
- 18647 alto
- 18648 lengthen
- 18649 standardize
- 18650 taker
- ...