di ‧ min ‧ u ‧ en ‧ do /dəˌmɪnjuˈendəʊ, dɪˌmɪnjuˈendəʊ $ -doʊ/ BrE AmE noun ( plural diminuendos ) [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: Italian ; Origin: Latin minuere 'to make less' ]
a part in a piece of music where it becomes gradually quieter OPP crescendo
—diminuendo adjective , adverb