piccolo

1 of 2

adjective

pic·​co·​lo ˈpi-kə-ˌlō How to pronounce piccolo (audio)
: smaller than ordinary size
a piccolo banjo

piccolo

2 of 2

noun

plural piccolos
: a small shrill flute whose range is an octave higher than that of an ordinary flute
piccoloist
ˈpi-kə-ˌlō-ist How to pronounce piccolo (audio)
noun

Illustration of piccolo

Illustration of piccolo

Examples of piccolo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
He’s manifested these through violin, piccolo, glockenspiel, and rumbling percussion suggestive of rolling surf, lighting strikes, and thunder. — Guillermo Perez, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2025 In response, Threshold invited Taylor and CSO piccolo player Jennifer Gunn to its downtown offices to discuss the current Pavilion shell design and experience various simulated acoustic settings. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025 At the end, take a bow, and hold the piccolo with the index finger of your hidden hand, which should be poking out the front of your pants zipper. — Chris Stanton, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2024 Where the Sea Change version sounds doleful, the new orchestration sounded almost hopeful with strings that glide over the chords and a perky piccolo poking through the musical ceiling. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for piccolo

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Italian, small

Noun

Italian, short for piccolo flauto small flute

First Known Use

Adjective

1832, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piccolo was in 1832

Rhymes for piccolo

See All Rhymes for piccolo

Browse Nearby Words

piccata
piccolo
piccolopasso red
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piccolo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piccolo. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

piccolo

noun
pic·​co·​lo
ˈpik-ə-ˌlō
plural piccolos
: a small shrill flute
piccoloist
-əst
noun
Etymology

Noun

from Italian piccolo "piccolo," a shortened form of piccolo flauto "little flute"

More from Merriam-Webster on piccolo

Nglish: Translation of piccolo for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about piccolo

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