allegro

/əˈlɛgroʊ/

/əˈlɛgrəʊ/

Other forms: allegros

In music, allegro distinguishes a movement that's meant to be played very quickly. Your piano teacher might instruct you to try playing a piece allegro.

If you're reading sheet music and you see the word allegro, you'll know that particular section or movement should be played in a lively, spirited way. There are many Italian musical terms that describe or direct the tempo, or speed, of the music, and allegro is one of these. The word means "cheerful or gay" in Italian from the Latin root alacrem, "lively, cheerful, or brisk."

Definitions of allegro

1. adverb

   in a quick and lively tempo
   “play this section allegro”
2. adjective

   (of tempo) fast
   synonyms:

   fast

   at a rapid tempo
3. noun

   a brisk and lively tempo
   type of:

   pacing, tempo

   (music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
4. noun

   a musical composition or musical passage to be performed quickly in a brisk lively manner
   type of:

   composition, musical composition, opus, piece, piece of music

   a musical work that has been created

   musical passage, passage

   a short section of a musical composition