səˈnäd.ə, -ätə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Italian, from sonare to sound, from Latin
: an instrumental musical composition: as
a. : an early instrumental composition in movements without characteristic structure — see sonata da chiesa , sonata da camera
b. : an extended composition for one or two instruments usually in three or four movements which are contrasted in rhythm and mood but related in tonality and which usually have an organic unity of sentiment and style — compare sonata form