Crescendo

Pronunciation

UK IPA: /kÉ¹ÉªËˆÊƒÉ›n.dÉ™ÊŠ/, /kÉ¹É™ËˆÊƒÉ›n.dÉ™ÊŠ/
US IPA: /kÉ¹ÉªËˆÊƒÉ›n.doÊŠ/, /kÉ¹É™ËˆÊƒÉ›n.doÊŠ/
Hyphenation: cres + cen + do

Alternative forms

cresc.

Origin

Borrowing from it crescendo, gerund of crescere ("to grow, to increase")

Noun

crescendo

(plural crescendos or crescendi or crescendoes)

(music) An instruction to play gradually more loudly, denoted by a long, narrow angle with its apex on the left ( < ).
(figuratively) A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo.
(figuratively, nonstandard) The climax of a gradual increase.Their arguing rose to a fearsome crescendo.

2011, October 20, Michael da Silva, Stoke 3 - 0 Macc Tel-Aviv, With the Stoke supporters jeering Ziv's every subsequent touch, the pantomime atmosphere created by the home crowd reached a crescendo when Ziv was shown a straight red shortly after the break in extraordinary circumstances.

Usage notes

The musical sense indicates that the figurative sense is an increase rather than the climax of the increase. The use of this word to mean the climax of an increase is nonstandard but commonplace.

Antonyms

(music) decrescendo, diminuendo
(the climax of a gradual increase) climax, conclusion

Full definition of crescendo

Verb

To increase in intensity, to reach or head for a crescendo.The band crescendoed and then suddenly went silent.----