Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Music The speed at which music is or ought to be played, often indicated on written compositions by a descriptive or metronomic direction to the performer.
- noun A characteristic rate or rhythm of activity; a pace.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In music, the relative rapidity of rhythm; time; movement.
- noun The characteristic rhythmical and metrical movement or pattern of a dance: as, tempo di valse, tempo di menuetto, etc.
- noun An oval brass coin, with a square hole in the middle, first coined in Japan during the period “tempo” (1830–43 inclusive), and now equal to eight rin or cash, or eight tenths of a sen. One hundred and twenty-five tempos make one yen.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Mus.) The rate or degree of movement in time.
- noun in exact time; -- sometimes, directing a return to strict time after a tempo rubato.
- noun See under
Rubato .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun a
frequency orrate - noun chess a
move which is part of one's ownplan orstrategy and forces, e.g. by means of a check or attacking a piece, the opponent to make a move which is not bad but of no use for him (the player gains a tempo, the opponent loses a tempo), or equivalently a player achieves the same result in fewer moves by one approach rather than another. - noun
timing of a particular event – earlier or later than in an alternative situation (as in chess example) - noun music The number of beats per minute in a piece of music; also, an indicative term denoting approximate rate of speed in written music (examples:
allegro ,andante )
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
- noun the rate of some repeating event
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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After any modification in tempo (either faster or slower) has been suggested it is usual to indicate a return to the normal rate by some such expression as _a tempo_ (lit. in time), _a tempo primo_ (lit. in the first time), _tempo primo_, or _tempo_.
Music Notation and Terminology Karl Wilson Gehrkens 1928
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Before the game, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he wasn't sure how his team would react to the long layoff or the change in tempo from the high-scoring series against the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals that ended in five games more than a week ago.
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Controlling the tempo is a strategy, going back to the 4-corners in college ball, and the ability to do it well indicates defensive skill.
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In his writings he at first indicated this manner which gave so individual an impress to his virtuosity by the term tempo rubato: stolen, broken time ” a measure at once supple, abrupt, and languid, vacillating like the flame under the breath which agitates it, like the corn in a field swayed by the soft pressure of a warm air, like the top of trees bent hither and thither by a keen breeze.
Frederic Chopin as a Man and Musician Niecks, Frederick 1888
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[WYWH tempo is variable, but other than that, unbelievable.]
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Later, once the basic techniques are mastered, the teacher introduces the concept of making the notes sound like music by playing them to a certain tempo or time.
Arthur Rosenfeld: Paying Attention to the Space Between Life's Notes Arthur Rosenfeld 2010
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Slow in tempo and often sweet, odd moments of discord in this piece seem to suggest the anxiety beneath.
Readers recommend: songs set at dawn Paul MacInnes 2010
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Later, once the basic techniques are mastered, the teacher introduces the concept of making the notes sound like music by playing them to a certain tempo or time.
Arthur Rosenfeld: Paying Attention to the Space Between Life's Notes Arthur Rosenfeld 2010
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And the tempo is high enough for one to wiggle around to.
Readers recommend: songs about uncertainty Paul MacInnes 2010
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With only 15 days to go until midterm election day on 2 November, the tempo is getting faster as candidates in crucial marginal seats scour their districts for votes and debates – such as the one between Rand Paul and Jack Conway last night – take centre stage.
Midterm elections live blog - Monday 18 October Richard Adams 2010
seanahan commented on the word tempo
In chess, tempo refers to the moves. Gaining a tempo means accomplishing a task one move faster than your opponent, and allows you to move onto your next attack.
July 27, 2008
rfb commented on the word tempo
Laura Bush's Secret Service code name...
November 15, 2008