CIDE DICTIONARY

Solo, n. [It., from L. solus alone. See Sole, a.].

A tune, air, strain, or a whole piece, played by a single person on an instrument, or sung by a single voice. [1913 Webster]

Solo, a.

Performing, or performed, alone; uncombined, except with subordinate parts, voices, or instruments; not concerted. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Solo, n., v., & adv.
--n. (pl. -os)
1 (pl. -os or soli) a a vocal or instrumental piece or passage, or a dance, performed by one person with or without accompaniment. b (attrib.) performed or performing as a solo (solo passage; solo violin).
2 a an unaccompanied flight by a pilot in an aircraft. b anything done by one person unaccompanied. c (attrib.) unaccompanied, alone.
3 (in full solo whist) a a card-game like whist in which one player may oppose the others. b a declaration or the act of playing to win five tricks at this.
--v. (-oes, -oed)
1 intr. perform a solo, esp. a solo flight.
2 tr. perform or achieve as a solo.
--adv. unaccompanied, alone (flew solo for the first time).

Idiom

solo stop an organ stop especially suitable for imitating a solo performance on another instrument.

Etymology

It. f. L solus alone

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THESAURUS

Solo

air, airlift, alienated, alone, aloof, apart, aria, aria buffa, aria cantabile, aria da capo, aria da chiesa, aria di bravura, aria di coloratura, aria fugata, aria parlante, arietta, arioso, aside, barnstorm, bravura, cantabile, canto, cantus, choir, claviature, coloratura, companionless, console, control, copilot, descant, detached, drive, echo, eighty-eight, fingerboard, flight, fly, friendless, great, homeless, hop, individual, insular, isolated, ivories, jump, keyboard, keys, kithless, lay, line, lone, lonely, lonesome, manipulate, manual, measure, melodia, melodic line, melody, monodrama, monologue, monology, note, organ manual, pedals, peel off, piano keys, pilot, recitative, refrain, removed, rootless, run, separate, separated, single-handed, singular, sole, soliloquy, solitary, solo part, song, soprano part, strain, swell, test flight, treble, trip, tune, unabetted, unaccompanied, unaided, unassisted, unattended, unescorted, unexampled, unique, unrepeatable, unseconded, unsupported, withdrawn

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ROGET THESAURUS

Solo

Music

N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.

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