adverb
- gradually becoming slower in tempo (used as a musical direction)
Usage: musical term; Italian origin; often abbreviated as 'lent.'
adjective
- becoming gradually slower in tempo
Usage: musical term; describes a passage or section of music
Examples
- The conductor marked the final section lentando to create a sense of resolution.
- Play this passage lentando, gradually reducing the tempo over eight measures.
- The lentando indication tells musicians to slow down progressively.
- In the score, lentando appears just before the final cadence.
- The orchestra executed the lentando passage with careful precision.