Tremolo
noun /ˈtrɛm.ə.loʊ/ — A trembling effect produced by rapid repetition of a note.
Definition
A rapid repetition of a single note or alternation between two notes, creating a trembling, shimmering effect. In film scores, it signals dread or agitation. In strings and piano, it creates sustained intensity.
Beyond the definition
Tremolo is the sound of unresolved tension — a held breath, a quivering. Horror film composers know this: tremolo strings signal that something terrible is about to happen.
Origin & history
Italian: from 'tremolare' (to tremble); from Latin 'tremulus' (trembling). Distinct from vibrato, which is a fluctuation of pitch rather than a repetition.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The tremolo strings in the shower scene of Psycho are practically synonymous with the word 'horror' in cinema.
She played the tremolo so quickly it sounded like a held note — until it broke, like a held breath released.
There was a tremolo quality to his voice on the phone — not from emotion, she realized, but from poor signal.
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 “Tremolo” when the meaning fits your context: A rapid repetition of a single note or alternation between two notes, creating a trembling, shimmering effect. In film scores, it signals dread or agitation. In strings and piano, it creates sustained intensity.
Synonyms
trill, quiver, shiver, flutter
Antonyms
steady, sustained, legato
Related words
Tremolo vs vibrato
Tremolo is the rapid repetition of a single note to create intensity. Vibrato is a slight oscillation in pitch or volume used to add warmth to a sustained note.
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
Paint Colors Blending Into Nuances
The artist's palette shows swirling pigments being mixed, with thick textures catching the light as colors alternate and blend into one another.
Tremolo is the rapid repetition of a note to create shimmering intensity. The visual alternation and mixing of textures on the palette evoke this vibrating quality, maintaining visual intensity through repeated, focused action.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Tremolo" mean?
Tremolo is noun meaning: A trembling effect produced by rapid repetition of a note.. A rapid repetition of a single note or alternation between two notes, creating a trembling, shimmering effect. In film scores, it signals dread or agitation. In strings and piano, it creates sustained intensity.
Where does the word "Tremolo" come from?
Italian: from 'tremolare' (to tremble); from Latin 'tremulus' (trembling). Distinct from vibrato, which is a fluctuation of pitch rather than a repetition.