Piano

a. [It., even, smooth, soft, from Lat. planus, even, level.] (Mus.) Soft;—a direction to the performer to execute the passage to which it refers softly and with diminished volume of tone.

n. [It. piano, soft, from Lat. planus, even, smooth, and It. forte, strong, from Lat. fortis.] (Mus.) A musical instrument resembling a harpsichord, and consisting of a series of wires of graduated length, thickness, and tension, struck by hammers which are moved by keys.