[ri.tor.nel.lo] n, pl -nel.li or -nellos [It, dim. of ritorno return, fr. ritornare to return, fr. ri- re- + tornare to turn, fr. L, to turn on a lathe--more at turn] (1675) 1 a: a short recurrent instrumental passage in a vocal composition b: an instrumental interlude in early opera
2: a tutti passage in a concerto or rondo refrain