toc·ca·ta

(tə-kä′tə)

A virtuoso composition, usually for the organ or another keyboard instrument, in free style with brilliant passagework.

[Italian, from feminine past participle of toccare, to touch, from Vulgar Latin *toccāre.]

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.

toccata

(təˈkɑːtə)

(Classical Music) a rapid keyboard composition for organ, harpsichord, etc, dating from the baroque period, usually in a rhythmically free style

[C18: from Italian, literally: touched, from toccare to play (an instrument), touch]

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

toc•ca•ta

(təˈkɑ tə)

n. pl. -tas, -te (-ti, -teɪ)

a composition in the style of an improvisation, for the piano, organ, or other keyboard instrument, intended to exhibit the player's technique.

[1715–25; < Italian, n. use of feminine past participle of toccare to touch]

toccata

Keyboard work to display virtuosity.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

toccata - a baroque musical composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) with full chords and rapid elaborate runs in a rhythmically free style

musical composition, opus, piece of music, composition, piece - a musical work that has been created; "the composition is written in four movements"

Translations

toccata

[təˈkɑːtə] N → tocata f

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

toccata

n → Toccata f

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