Glissando
noun /ɡlɪˈsæn.doʊ/ — A continuous sliding movement from one pitch to another.
Definition
A glide from one pitch to another, passing through all intermediate pitches. On a piano, performed by sliding a finger along the keys; on strings, by sliding a finger along the string. Creates a cascading, waterfall-like effect.
Beyond the definition
The glissando is the sound of transition, of between-ness — neither here nor there, traveling. It can be playful (cartoon slides), ecstatic (Rhapsody in Blue's famous clarinet opening), or mournful.
Origin & history
From Italian 'glissando' or French 'glissant' (sliding); from 'glisser' (to slip, to glide). The term blends Italian musical syntax with French sound.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue opens with a clarinet glissando so recognizable it has become shorthand for jazz itself.
The harpist played a glissando that swept the room upward — a whole octave in a single cascading motion.
Children instinctively play glissandos on piano — running a finger across all the white keys in pure sliding delight.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Glissando” when the meaning fits your context: A glide from one pitch to another, passing through all intermediate pitches. On a piano, performed by sliding a finger along the keys; on strings, by sliding a finger along the string. Creates a cascading, waterfall-like effect.
Synonyms
slide, portamento, glide
Antonyms
staccato, fixed pitch
Related words
Glissando vs portamento
Glissando is a distinct, rapid sliding effect across multiple pitches. Portamento is a more subtle, vocal-like glide between two specific, connected notes.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Colors Swirling And Blending Together
Thick paint on a palette is blended by a brush, causing various colors to glide into one another and create a cascading effect.
A glissando is a fluid transition between pitches, passing through all intermediate steps. The visual blending of colors on the palette mimics this cascading motion, where one shade transitions seamlessly into the next.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Glissando" mean?
Glissando is noun meaning: A continuous sliding movement from one pitch to another.. A glide from one pitch to another, passing through all intermediate pitches. On a piano, performed by sliding a finger along the keys; on strings, by sliding a finger along the string. Creates a cascading, waterfall-like effect.
Where does the word "Glissando" come from?
From Italian 'glissando' or French 'glissant' (sliding); from 'glisser' (to slip, to glide). The term blends Italian musical syntax with French sound.