legato Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective (music) without breaks between notes; smooth and connected
    smooth.
    • a legato passage
  2. adverb connecting the notes; in music
    • play this legato, please

WordNet

Le*ga"to adjective
Etymology
It., tied, joined, fr. legare to tie, bind, L. ligare.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) Connected; tied; -- a term used when successive tones are to be produced in a closely connected, smoothly gliding manner. It is often indicated by a tie, thus , , or , written over or under the notes to be so performed; -- opposed to staccato.

Webster 1913