adagio Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (music) a composition played in adagio tempo (slowly and gracefully)
    • they played the adagio too quickly
  2. noun a slow section of a pas de deux requiring great skill and strength by the dancers
  3. adjective satellite (of tempo) leisurely
  4. adverb slowly
    • here you must play adagio

WordNet

A*da"gio adjective & adverb
Etymology
It. adagio; ad (L. ad) at + agio convenience, leisure, ease. See Agio.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) Slow; slowly, leisurely, and gracefully. When repeated, adagio, adagio, it directs the movement to be very slow.
A*da"gio noun
Definitions
  1. A piece of music in adagio time; a slow movement; as, an adagio of Haydn.

Webster 1913