/ dɪˌvɜːtɪˈmentəʊ; NAmE dɪˌvɜːrtɪˈmentoʊ/ noun
( pl. -ti / -ti; NAmE / or -os ) ( music ) (from Italian ) a piece of music that is meant to be entertaining rather than serious, especially one written for a small orchestra
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 18th cent. (denoting a diversion or amusement): Italian , literally diversion .