I. |pitsə̇|kä]d.(ˌ)ō, -sē|-, -kȧ], ](ˌ)tō adverb (or adjective)
Etymology: Italian, past participle of pizzicare to pinch, pluck (strings), play pizzicato, from pizzare to sting, prick, pinch
: by means of plucking by the fingers instead of bowing : plucked — used as a direction in music
marked the opening part of the movement pizzicato
a brief section is played pizzicato
a series of pizzicato notes
II. noun
( plural pizzica·ti ]d.(ˌ)ē, ](ˌ)tē\ ; or pizzicatos )
: a note or passage played by plucking strings