I. ˈtem(ˌ)pō noun
( plural tem·pi -pē ; or tempos )
Etymology: Italian, time, tempo, from Latin tempus time — more at temporal
1. : rate of rhythmic recurrence or movement ; specifically : the rate of speed of a musical piece or passage indicated by one of a series of directions associated conventionally with speed (as largo, presto, allegro) and often by an exact metronome marking
the symphonies were set forth very authoritatively and occasionally in tempos more deliberate than some I have heard — Winthrop Sargeant
2. : rate of motion or activity : pace
the campaign tempo stepped up — Newsweek
staccato dance tempi
increased sales and production tempo — Wall Street Journal
after dawn the tempo of the town slowed down — H.E.Rieseberg
3. : a turn to move in chess in relation to one's opponent's turns
gain a tempo when the opponent makes a useless move
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Japanese
: an old oval bronze coin of Japan having a square hole in the center coined in the first half of the 19th century