presto

views updated Jun 08 2018

pres·to / ˈprestō/ • adv. & adj. Mus. (esp. as a direction) in a quick tempo.• n. (pl. -tos) Mus. a movement or passage marked to be performed in a quick tempo.• interj. a phrase announcing the successful completion of a trick, or suggesting that something has been done so easily that it seems to be magic: just one quick squeeze and presto! A stir fry in seconds.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

presto

views updated May 18 2018

presto (conjurer's word) quickly, at once. XVI. — It., adv. use of adj.:- Rom., late L. præstus ready, quick, for earlier præstō at hand. As a musical direction presto is an independent adoption (XVII).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

presto

views updated Jun 08 2018

presto (It.). Quick. prestezza, quickness; prestamente, quickly; prestissimo, very quick; prestissimamente, very quickly.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE

PRESTO

views updated May 18 2018

PRESTO (ˈprɛstəʊ) (USA) program reporting and evaluation system for total operation

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH