crescendo

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   An instruction to play gradually more loudly, denoted by a long, narrow angle with its…

   An instruction to play gradually more loudly, denoted by a long, narrow angle with its apex on the left ( < ), by musicians called a hairpin.

2. 2

   A gradual increase of anything, especially to a dramatic climax.

   • Their fighting rose in a fearsome crescendo.
3. 3

   The climax of a gradual increase.

   • Their arguing rose to a fearsome crescendo.
   • With the Stoke supporters jeering Ziv's every subsequent touch, the pantomime atmosphere created by the home crowd reached a crescendo when Ziv was shown a straight red shortly after the break in extraordinary circumstances.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To increase in intensity

      To increase in intensity; to reach or head for a crescendo.

      • The band crescendoed and then suddenly went silent.
   2. 5

      Gradually increasing in force or loudness.

The neighborhood

• synonymamplification
• synonymascension
• synonymboost
• synonymgain
• synonymgrowth
• synonymincrease
• synonymloudening
• synonymspike
• synonymsurge
• synonymupsurge
• antonymdecrescendoantonym(s) of “music”
• antonymdiminuendoantonym(s) of “music”
• antonymclimaxantonym(s) of “the climax of a gradual increase”
• antonymconclusionantonym(s) of “the climax of a gradual increase”
• antonymdecrease
• antonymfall
• neighborescalation
• neighborrise