appoggiatura

ap·pog·gia·tu·ra  (-pj-tr)

n. Music

An embellishing note, usually one step above or below the note it precedes and indicated by a small note or special sign.

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[Italian, from appoggiato, past participle of appoggiare, to lean on, from Vulgar Latin *appodire : Latin ad-, ad- + Latin podium, support (from Greek podion, base, from pous, pod-, foot; see ped- in Indo-European roots).]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

appoggiatura - an embellishing note usually written in smaller size acciaccatura, grace note musical note, note, tone - a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound; "the singer held the note too long"