I. krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō noun
( plural -dos or -does also cre·scen·di -dē)
Etymology: Italian, from crescendo, adjective, increasing, gerund of crescere to grow, increase, from Latin
Date: 1775
1.
a. : a gradual increase ; specifically : a gradual increase in volume of a musical passage
b. : the peak of a gradual increase : climax
complaints about stifling smog conditions reach a crescendo — Down Beat
2. : a crescendo musical passage
• crescendo intransitive verb
[
mark indicating crescendo 2
]
II. adverb or adjective
Date: 1807
: with an increase in volume — used as a direction in music