RITORNELLO Meaning of RITORNELLO in English [ ˌrɪtɔ:'nɛləʊ ]■ noun ( plural ~s or ritornelli -li ) Music a short instrumental refrain or interlude in a vocal work.OriginItal., dimin. of ritorno 'return'. Concise Oxford English vocab. Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2004