virtuoso
virtuoso Lexical Profile
virtuoso Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit, or one who excels in the technical mastery of any field.
"The young violinist was hailed as a virtuoso after effortlessly playing the most demanding repertoire."
A person with a cultivated appreciation and special knowledge of fine arts, antiquities, or curiosities.
"The Renaissance duke was a noted virtuoso whose palace housed rare manuscripts and ancient sculptures."
• adjective
Displaying exceptional technical skill, mastery, or brilliance, especially in the performance of music or another art.
"The pianist received a standing ovation for her virtuoso performance of the concerto."
Word Nuance & Usage
Both the English plural 'virtuosos' and the Italian plural 'virtuosi' are standard, though 'virtuosi' is often preferred in formal musical and artistic criticism.
• Rhymes for virtuoso
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 17th century from Italian 'virtuoso' ('skilled, learned'), from Late Latin 'virtuosus' ('good, virtuous'), ultimately from Latin 'virtus' ('excellence, manliness, worth').