n.
Pronunciation: k ə n- ' tin-y ə - ˌ w ō , - ' ti-n ə -
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -u · os
Etymology: Italian, from continuo continuous, from Latin continuus
Date: circa 1724
: a bass part (as for a keyboard or stringed instrument) used especially in baroque ensemble music and consisting of a succession of bass notes with figures that indicate the required chords ― called also figured bass thoroughbass