Definitions

1. noun

a musical effect where a note is smoothly glided into another note, often used in vocal or instrumental music.

“The opera singer’s use of portamento added a rich, emotive quality to her performance.”

2. noun

a sliding or smooth transition from one note to another, often used in music or singing.

“The musician carefully controlled the portamento to create a sense of drama in the song.”

3. verb

to change the pitch of a note smoothly, often used in singing or playing a musical instrument.

“She portamento-ed from one note to another, creating a beautiful, expressive sound.”