I. ˈstred.(ˌ)ō, -e(ˌ)tō adverb
Etymology: Italian, literally, narrowly, closely, from stretto narrow, close, pressed together, from Latin strictus, past participle of stringere to draw tight, press together — more at strain
: more quickly — used as a direction in music
II. noun
or stret·ta -ed.ə, -etə
( plural stret·ti -ed.(ˌ)ē, -e(ˌ)tē ; or strettos -ed.(ˌ)ōz, -e(ˌ)toz ; or stret·te -ed.(ˌ)ā, -e(ˌ)tā ; or strettas )
Etymology: stretto from Italian, literally, narrow, close, pressed together; stretta from Italian, from feminine of stretto
1.
a. : the overlapping of answer with subject in a musical fugue
b. : the part of a fugue characterized by the cumulative effect of this overlapping
2. : a concluding passage performed in a quicker tempo