basso
basso Lexical Profile
basso Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A male singer, especially in opera, who has the lowest vocal range.
"The renowned Italian basso delivered a commanding performance as the villain in the final act of the opera."
The lowest male singing voice or the lowest part in a musical harmony.
"The composer wrote a rich, resonant basso line to anchor the choral arrangement."
• adjective
Pitched in the lowest range of a vocal or instrumental musical family; bass.
"The conductor asked the basso section of the choir to project more clearly during the solemn finale."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'bass' is the standard term across all musical genres, 'basso' is used almost exclusively in classical music and Italian opera contexts.
• Rhymes for basso
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 18th century from Italian 'basso' (meaning 'low'), which comes from Late Latin 'bassus' ('short' or 'low').