v.
Pronunciation: ' im-pr ə - ˌ v ī z also ˌ im-pr ə - '
Function: verb
Inflected Form: -vised ; -vis · ing
Etymology: French improviser, from Italian improvvisare, from improvviso sudden, from Latin improvisus, literally, unforeseen, from in- + provisus, past participle of provid ē re to see ahead ― more at PROVIDE
Date: 1826
transitive verb
1 : to compose, recite, play, or sing extemporaneously
2 : to make, invent, or arrange offhand
3 : to make or fabricate out of what is conveniently on hand < improvise a meal>
intransitive verb : to improvise something
– im · pro · vis · er or im · pro · vi · sor \ - ˌ v ī -z ə r, - ' v ī - \ noun