alto-

(word root) high

Examples of words with the root alto-: altostratus

al·to

(ăl′tō)

n. pl. al·tos

1. A low female singing voice; a contralto.

2. A countertenor.

a. The range between soprano and tenor.

b. A singer whose voice lies within this range.

c. An instrument that sounds within this range.

d. A vocal or instrumental part written in this range.

[Italian, from Latin altus, high; see al- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

alto

(ˈæltəʊ)

n, pl -tos

1. (Classical Music) the highest adult male voice; countertenor

2. (Music, other) (in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto

3. (Classical Music) a singer with such a voice

4. (Instruments) another name for viola¹¹

5. (Classical Music) a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

adj

(Classical Music) denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

[C18: from Italian: high, from Latin altus]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

al•to

(ˈæl toʊ)

n., pl. -tos,
adj. n.

1. contralto.

2. countertenor.

3. the second highest part of a four-part chorus.

4. the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments.

adj.

5. of, pertaining to, or having the range of an alto.

[1775–85; < Italian < Latin altus high]

alto-

var. of alti-: altostratus.

alto

High in Italian. The lower type of female voice, but originally in church music the male high voice above the melody sung by tenors. Now mainly used to describe boys and female voices in choirs.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	alto - a singer whose voice lies in the alto clef countertenor - a male singer with a voice above that of a tenor singer, vocalist, vocalizer, vocaliser - a person who sings
	2.	alto - the lowest female singing voice contralto singing voice - the musical quality of the voice while singing
	3.	alto - the highest adult male singing voice countertenor singing voice - the musical quality of the voice while singing
	4.	alto - (of a musical instrument) the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments pitch - the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
	5.	alto - the pitch range of the lowest female voice pitch - the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration
Adj.	1.	alto - of or being the lowest female voice contralto low-pitched, low - used of sounds and voices; low in pitch or frequency
	2.	alto - of or being the highest male voice; having a range above that of tenor countertenor high-pitched, high - used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency
	3.	alto - (of a musical instrument) second highest member of a group; "alto clarinet or recorder" music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner high-pitched, high - used of sounds and voices; high in pitch or frequency

alto

adjective

Being a sound produced by a relatively small frequency of vibrations:

bass, contralto, deep, low, low-pitched.

Translations

أعْلَى الأصْوَات فِي غِنَاء الرِّجَال

alt

Alt

alto contralto

alt

altrödd

contralto

altas

alts

alt

альт

alt

en kalın kadın sesi

女低音

alto

[ˈæltəʊ]

A. N (= instrument, male singer) → alto m; (= female singer) → contralto f

B. ADJ → alto

C. CPD alto saxophone N → saxofón m alto

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

alto

[ˈæltəʊ]

n (= singer) (female) → contralto m; (male) → haute-contre f

modif [voice] (female) → de contralto; (male) → de haute-contre; [recorder, clarinet] → alto alto saxophone

alto

(= voice) → Alt m, → Altstimme f; (= person) → Alt m

(also alto saxophone) → Altsaxofon nt, → Altsaxophon nt

adj → Alt-; an alto voice → eine Altstimme; alto part → Altpartie f

adv to sing alto → Alt singen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

alto

[ˈæltəʊ] n (instrument) → contralto; (male) → contraltino; (female) → contralto

alto

(ˈӕltəu) – plural ˈaltos – noun

(a singer having) a singing voice of the lowest pitch for a woman.