1. Plural of castrato; male singers who were castrated before puberty to preserve their high vocal range, especially in European opera and church music from the 16th to 18th centuries.
Usage: historical; music

Examples

• The opera featured famous castrati from Italy who performed the soprano roles.
• Castrati were highly valued in papal choirs during the Renaissance.
• Many castrati became celebrated stars of 18th-century opera houses.
• The practice of training castrati declined significantly in the 19th century.
• Historians study castrati to understand the musical traditions of early modern Europe.