/steuh kah"toh/ , adj., adv., n., pl. staccatos, staccati /-tee/ .
adj.
1. shortened and detached when played or sung: staccato notes.
2. characterized by performance in which the notes are abruptly disconnected: a staccato style of playing. Cf. legato .
3. composed of or characterized by abruptly disconnected elements; disjointed: rapid-fire, staccato speech.
adv.
4. in a staccato manner.
n.
5. performance in a staccato manner.
6. a staccato passage.
[ 1715-25; staccare (deriv. of stacca pole distaccare to DETACH) ]