( NAmE also ob·li·gato ) / ˌɒblɪˈgɑːtəʊ; NAmE ˌɑːblɪˈgɑːtoʊ/ noun
( pl. -os ) ( music ) (from Italian ) an important part for an instrument in a piece of music which cannot be left out
••
WORD ORIGIN
Italian , literally obligatory , from Latin obligatus , past participle of obligare , from ob- towards + ligare to bind.