arioso

Definition of Arioso in English :

1. arioso

(music) a short recitative that is melodic but is not an aria

WordNet Lexical Database for English. Princeton University. 2010.

Arioso

noun plural -sos or -si (-siː)

music

a recitative with the lyrical quality of an aria

nounWord forms: plural ˌariˈoˌsi (ˌærɪuˌsi ; aˌrio̅osēˌ) or ˌariˈoˌsos (ˌærɪˈoˌsoʊz ; aˌrioˈsōzˌ) Music

1.

a vocal style between aria and recitative

2.

a composition or passage in this style

adjective, adverb

3.

in the style of an arioso

n. pl. a·ri·o·sos

1.

a. A style used in opera and oratorio, similar to but more melodic than recitative.

b. A passage rendered in this style.

2. A short vocal solo having the melodic style but not the form of an aria.

adv. & adj.

In a melodic style like that of an aria. Used chiefly as a direction.