diminuendo

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˌmɪnjʊˈɛndəʊ/
Music

noun (plural diminuendos or diminuendi /-di/)

  • a decrease in loudness in a piece of music: the sudden diminuendos are brilliantly effective
  • a passage to be performed with a decrease in loudness.

adverb & adjective

  • (especially as a direction) with a decrease in loudness: [as adjective]: the diminuendo chorus before the final tumult

verb (diminuendos, diminuendoing, diminuendoed)

[no object]
  • decrease in loudness or intensity: the singers left and the buzz diminuendoed

Origin:

Italian, literally 'diminishing', from diminuire, from Latin deminuere 'lessen' (see diminish)