cre ‧ scen ‧ do /krəˈʃendəʊ, krɪˈʃendəʊ $ -doʊ/ BrE AmE noun ( plural crescendos ) [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: 'growing' , from Latin crescendum , from crescere ; ⇨ ↑ crescent ]
1 . if a sound or a piece of music rises to a crescendo, it gradually becomes louder until it is very loud OPP diminuendo :
The shouting rose to a deafening crescendo.
The curtains opened as the music reached a crescendo.
2 . if an activity or feeling reaches a crescendo, it gradually becomes stronger until it is very strong SYN climax :
The campaign reached its crescendo in the week of the election.