I. adjective
also ob·li·ga·to ˌäblə̇ˈgäd.(ˌ)ō, -lē-, -ä(ˌ)tō
Etymology: Italian obbligato (past participle of obbligare to obligate), from Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare to obligate — more at obligate
: obligatory and not to be omitted — used as a musical direction
accompaniment obbligato
— distinguished from ad libitum
II. noun
also obligato “
( plural obbliga·tos -ōz ; also obbliga·ti -d.(ˌ)ē, -(ˌ)tē)
1. : a prominent part of semi-independent melodic character accompanying a solo voice or principal melody and usually played by a single instrument
a song with violin obbligato
2. : an accompaniment to something ; especially : an attendant sound
arrived with a flourish accompanied by an obbligato of honking geese and barking dogs