I. ˌdā-krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō noun
( plural -dos )
Etymology: Italian, literally, decreasing, from Latin decrescendum, gerund of decrescere
Date: 1877
1. : a gradual decrease in volume of a musical passage
2. : a decrescendo musical passage
[
mark indicating decrescendo 2
]
II. adverb or adjective
Date: 1877
: with a decrease in volume — used as a direction in music