| basso continuo n. See continuo. [Italian, continuous bass.] |
con·tin·u·o  (kən-tĭn'yōō-ō')  n. pl. con·tin·u·os An independent bass line, usually realized on a keyboard instrument, in which numerals written underneath the notes indicate the kinds of harmony to be played. Also called basso continuo, figured bass, thoroughbass. [Italian, from Latin continuus, continuous; see continue.] |