all' ottava

[ ahluh-tah-vuh; Italian ahl-lawt-tah-vah ]

nounMusic.
  1. a direction (8va), placed above or below the staff to indicate that the passage covered is to be played one octave higher or lower respectively.

Origin of all' ottava

1
1815–25; <Italian: literally, at the octave

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for all'ottava

all'ottava

/ (æləˈtɑːvə) /


adjective, adverb
  1. music to be played an octave higher or lower than written: Symbol: 8va

Origin of all'ottava

1
Italian: at the octave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012