n.
Pronunciation: ˌ ka-v ə - ' t ē -n ə , ˌ kä-
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian, from cavata production of sound from an instrument, extraction, from cavare to dig out, from Latin, to make hollow, from cavus
Date: 1813
1 : an operatic solo simpler and briefer than an aria
2 : a songlike instrumental piece or movement