Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

improvised

 - 3 dictionary results

im⋅pro⋅vised

[im-pruh-vahyzd]
–adjective
made or said without previous preparation: an improvised skit.

Origin:
1830–40; improvise + -ed 2


im⋅pro⋅vis⋅ed⋅ly [im-pruh-vahy-zid-lee] , adverb


unpremeditated, unrehearsed, unprepared. See extemporaneous.


rehearsed.

im⋅pro⋅vise

[im-pruh-vahyz] verb, -vised, -vis⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
1. to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation; extemporize: to improvise an acceptance speech.
2. to compose, play, recite, or sing (verse, music, etc.) on the spur of the moment.
3. to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available: We improvised a dinner from yesterday's leftovers.
–verb (used without object)
4. to compose, utter, execute, or arrange anything extemporaneously: When the actor forgot his lines he had to improvise.

Origin:
1820–30; < F improviser, or its source, It improvisare (later improvvisare), v. deriv. of improviso improvised < L imprōvīsus, equiv. to im- im- 2 + prōvīsus ptp. of prōvidēre to see beforehand, prepare, provide for (a future circumstance). See proviso


im⋅pro⋅vis⋅er, im⋅pro⋅vi⋅sor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To improvised
im·pro·vise   (ĭm'prə-vīz')   
v.   im·pro·vised, im·pro·vis·ing, im·pro·vis·es

v.   tr.
  1. To invent, compose, or perform with little or no preparation.

  2. To play or sing (music) extemporaneously, especially by inventing variations on a melody or creating new melodies in accordance with a set progression of chords.

  3. To make or provide from available materials: improvised a dinner from what I found in the refrigerator.

v.   intr.
  1. To invent, compose, or perform something extemporaneously.

  2. To improvise music.

  3. To make do with whatever materials are at hand.


[French improviser, from Italian improvvisare, from improvviso, unforeseen, from Latin imprōvīsus : in-, not; see in-1 + prōvīsus, past participle of prōvidēre, to foresee; see provide.]
im'pro·vis'er, im'pro·vi'sor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see improvised on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: