stretto

/ˈstret.to/
adjectivenounIntermediate
general

Narrow or tight in space; limited in width or space.

Il passaggio è troppo stretto per il camion.

The passage is too narrow for the truck.

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Commonly used to describe physical spaces like streets, passages, or gaps.

general

Tight or constrained in time or resources.

Abbiamo un programma molto stretto.

We have a very tight schedule.

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Used metaphorically to describe schedules, deadlines, or budgets.

musical

A musical term indicating a passage to be played at a slower tempo.

Il compositore ha indicato 'stretto' nella partitura.

The composer marked 'stretto' in the score.

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In music, 'stretto' can also refer to a contrapuntal technique where a melody is imitated closely.

Collocations

stretto di temposhort on timestretto di denaroshort of moneystretto di manohandshake

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

a stretto girophrase
in a short time
stretto di manophrase
handshake

💡Pro Tip

Musical Context

In music, 'stretto' refers to a contrapuntal technique or a tempo indication, not just narrowness.

Gold Rule

Physical vs. Abstract

'Stretto' can describe both physical spaces and abstract constraints like time or resources.

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'strictus', past participle of 'stringere' (to tighten or compress).

📝Usage Notes

In Italian, 'stretto' can describe physical spaces, schedules, or abstract constraints. In music, it has a specific technical meaning.

Word Breakdown

strett-
narrow or tight
root
+
-o
masculine singular ending
suffix
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese