Definition

A large musical instrument with a keyboard that produces sound by striking strings with hammers when the keys are pressed.

Example

She played a beautiful melody on the pianoforte during the concert.

Conversation

Have you ever played a pianoforte before?

No, I haven't, but I've always wanted to learn.

It's such a beautiful instrument, especially when you hear it played well.

I can only imagine! Maybe I should take some lessons.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Pianoforte** → It is formed from "piano" (from Italian, meaning soft) and "forte" (from Italian, meaning strong). The word "pianoforte" refers to a musical instrument that can produce sounds both soft and strong, hence its name.

Memory Tip

Think of the Italian words for soft ('piano') and strong ('forte') to remember that a pianoforte is an instrument capable of playing both soft and loud sounds.

Visually Confused Words