alto
the lowest female voice; contralto.
the highest male voice; countertenor.
a singer with such a voice.
a musical part for such a voice.
the second highest of the four parts of a mixed vocal chorus, or the voices or persons singing this part.
the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments, as the viola in the violin family or the althorn in the cornet family.
of, relating to, or having the tonal range of the alto.
(of a musical instrument) second highest in a family of musical instruments: alto saxophone.
Origin of alto
1Words Nearby alto
Other definitions for alto- (2 of 2)
variant of alti-: altostratus.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use alto in a sentence
Swallowing became painful and her strong alto voice dwindled to a raspy whisper.
Hours after a massage, a professor was wildly dizzy and deaf in one ear | Sandra G. Boodman | December 11, 2021 | Washington PostStructurally, the songs are bold — mixtures of balladry, hip-hop, country, soul and blues reside, in some cases, within a single song — and are flavored with instruments as diverse as organ, flute and alto sax.
A new album by incarcerated musicians features songs of prison, trauma and hope | Michael Patrick F. Smith | September 29, 2021 | Washington PostShe sang gospel songs in her strong alto, and she prayed aloud.
For Years, JaMarcus Crews Tried to Get a New Kidney, but Corporate Healthcare Stood in the Way | by Lizzie Presser | December 15, 2020 | ProPublicaHe played clarinet and alto saxophone in the 17th Division Special Service Band as part of the Army’s 92nd Infantry Division, popularly known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
Marshall Allen is 96 years old and still leading one of the most visionary jazz groups of all time | Shannon Effinger | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostWhen Cosby looked up, he saw that Sonny Stitt, the famed alto sax player, had joined the bandstand.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius | Mark Whitaker | October 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She found an out-of-network doctor in Palo alto who would do the surgery about a month later.
Eventually Franco took an acting job so his production company could put his salary into Palo alto.
For this role, Mueller, who earned a Tony nomination for her turn in On a Clear Day, ironed the vibrato out of her Broadway alto.
‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’ Review: A Few Discordant Notes, But Damn Great Songs | Daniel Gross | January 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut how can I say that when the protagonist is a talking bear who plays the alto sax?
"But you see it was just this way," explained the pleasant little voice—all alto notes again.
Molly Make-Believe | Eleanor Hallowell Abbott"It's only Molly," explained an undeniably sweet little alto voice.
Molly Make-Believe | Eleanor Hallowell AbbottFor the burial of a rich person (entierro alto) the sum of two hundred dollars is frequently paid.
Truth and sincerity staring out upon you perpetually in alto relievo.
alto de Mombu, again, is five hundred feet higher than Hacquita, and the mean temperature has here fallen nearly two degrees.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. XXII (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
British Dictionary definitions for alto (1 of 2)
/ (ˈæltəʊ) /
the highest adult male voice; countertenor
(in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto
a singer with such a voice
another name for viola 1 (def. 1)
a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group
denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group
Origin of alto
1British Dictionary definitions for alto- (2 of 2)
high: altocumulus; altostratus
Origin of alto-
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for alto
The lowest range of the female singing voice, also called contralto. (Compare mezzo soprano and soprano.)
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse