Hypertext Webster Gateway: "pianoforte"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Piano \Pi*an"o\, Pianoforte \Pi*an"o*for`te\, n. [It. piano soft
(fr. L. planus even, smooth; see {Plain}, a.) + It. forte
strong, fr. L. fortis (see {Fort}).] (Mus.)
A well-known musical instrument somewhat resembling the
harpsichord, and consisting of a series of wires of graduated
length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers moved by
keys.
{Dumb piano}. See {Digitorium}.
{Grand piano}. See under {Grand}.
{Square piano}, one with a horizontal frame and an oblong
case.
{Upright piano}, one with an upright frame and vertical
wires.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
pianoforte
n : a stringed instrument that is played by depressing keys that
cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds
[syn: {piano}, {forte-piano}]
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