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·vise (ĭm'prə-vīz') v.
im·pro·vised, im·pro·vis·ing, im·pro·vis·es
v.
tr.
To invent, compose, or perform with little or no preparation.
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.
To make or provide from available materials: improvised a dinner from what I found in the refrigerator.
v.
intr.
To invent, compose, or perform something extemporaneously.
To improvise music.
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.
[im-pruh-vahyzd] 
