Dictionary entry

Legato

Webster's Dictionary 1913

‖Le‐ga″to (lā̍‐gä″tō̍), a. [It., tied, joined, fr. legare to tie, bind, L. ligare.] (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.