/ kənˈtɪnjuəʊ; NAmE -juoʊ/ noun
[ U ] ( music ) (from Italian ) a musical part played to accompany another instrument, in which a line of low notes is shown with figures to represent the higher notes to be played above them :
a trio for two violins and continuo
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent.: Italian basso continuo continuous bass.