downtempoadj.n.
/ˌdaʊnˈtɛmpəʊ/, U.S. /ˌdaʊnˈtɛmpoʊ/, /ˈdaʊnˌtɛmpoʊ/ A. adj.
1. Music. Characterized by or played at a slow tempo.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > duration of notes > tempo > [adjective] > specific tempo
runningc1440
pronto1724
adagio1729
andante1742
amoroso1764
tittuping1772
allegretto1783
allegro1794
largo1795
andantino1819
furioso1823
adagietto1841
accelerando1842
rubato1846
bright1872
mosso1876
ritenuto1876
vivace1922
motoric1937
mouvementé1938
tranquillo1939
up tempo1948
downtempo1957
1957 Independent Star-News (Pasadena, Calif.) 15 May (Living section) 6/1 Down tempo ballad with a strong, almost rockish beat.
1976 Times 26 Feb. 7/4 Handel's A major Concerto Grosso opus 6 No 11, began with a cosy, down-tempo veneer à la Albinoni adagio, wrapped around its phrases.
1995 Newsday (Nexis) 13 Jan. b22 The graceful sincerity of the quartet's downtempo material.
2016 Winnipeg Free Press 23 July (Books section) 20/1 Moby's down-tempo song Porcelain came on the stereo.
2. gen. Characterized by a slow pace; relaxed.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > calmness > [adjective]
eveneOE
still1340
unperturbeda1450
unmovedc1480
quietful1494
lowna1500
calma1568
calmya1586
unpassionatea1586
smartless1593
reposeful1594
dispassionate1595
recollected1595
unaffectedc1595
unpassioned?1605
unpassionated1611
collecteda1616
tranquila1616
untouched1616
impassionate1621
composed1628
dispassioneda1631
tranquillous1638
slow1639
serene1640
dispassionated1647
imperturbed1652
unruffled1654
reposing1655
equanimous1656
perplacid1660
placate1662
equal1680
collect1682
cooled1682
posed1693
sedate1693
impassive1699
uninflamed1714
unexcited1735
unalarmed1756
unfanned1764
unagitated1772
undistraught1773
recollected1792
equable1796
unfussy1823
take-it-easy1825
unflurried1854
cool1855
comfortable1856
disimpassioned1860
tremorless1869
unpressured1879
unrippled1883
ice-cool1891
unrattled1891
Zen-likea1908
unrestless1919
steadyish1924
ataractic1941
relaxed1958
nonplussed1960
loose1968
Zenned-out1968
downtempo1972
mellowed1977
de-stressed1999
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > of pace
slackc1000
amblinga1470
softly1572
slow-paced1610
downtempo1972
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > [adjective] > unhurried (of movement)
softc1300
slowa1398
deliberate1575
leisurely1604
unhurrieda1774
leisure1809
downtempo1972
1972 Independent Press-Telegram (Long Beach, Calif.) 16 Jan. c19/4 A tense, down-tempo affair that favored 7,914 Southland fans with a rare home thriller.
1978 Washington Post 24 Jan. b3/5 On the afternoon slot, Channey ‘had to be laidback, down-tempo, for people going home’.
1991 Sports Illustr. 10 June 20/2 The Lakers..are now playing a down-tempo power game.
2008 A. Ham et al. Norway (Lonely Planet) (ed. 4) 204/2 This very cool place has contemporary art adorning its walls, a downtempo vibe and tasty organic food.
2010 Medicine Hat (Alberta) News 31 Dec. With most project supporters being teens with low cash flow..the fundraising pace has been somewhat downtempo.
B. n.
Music. Originally: music played at a slow tempo. Now usually: spec. a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a slow tempo and relaxing rhythms, with influences from jazz, bossa nova, and dub reggae.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > pop music > [noun] > other pop music
a cappella1905
soundclash1925
marabi1933
doo-wop1958
filk1959
folk-rock1963
Liverpool sound1963
Mersey beat1963
Mersey sound1963
surf music1963
malombo1964
mbaqanga1964
easy listening1965
disco music1966
Motown1966
boogaloo1967
power pop1967
psychedelia1967
yé-yé1967
agitpop1968
bubblegum1968
Tamla Motown1968
Tex-Mex1968
downtempo1969
taarab1969
thrash1969
world music1969
funk1970
MOR1970
tropicalism1970
Afrobeat1971
electro-pop1971
post-rock1971
techno-pop1971
Tropicalia1971
tropicalismo1971
disco1972
Krautrock1972
schlager1973
Afropop1974
punk funk1974
disco funk1975
Europop1976
mgqashiyo1976
P-funk1976
funkadelia1977
karaoke music1977
alternative music1978
hardcore1978
psychobilly1978
punkabilly1978
R&B1978
cowpunk1979
dangdut1979
hip-hop1979
Northern Soul1979
rap1979
rapping1979
jit1980
trance1980
benga1981
New Romanticism1981
post-punk1981
rap music1981
scratch1982
scratch-music1982
synth-pop1982
electro1983
garage1983
Latin1983
Philly1983
New Age1984
New Age music1985
ambient1986
Britpop1986
gangster rap1986
house1986
house music1986
mbalax1986
rai1986
trot1986
zouk1986
bhangra1987
garage1987
hip-house1987
new school1987
old school1987
thrashcore1987
acid1988
acid house1988
acid jazz1988
ambience1988
Cantopop1988
dance1988
deep house1988
industrial1988
swingbeat1988
techno1988
dream pop1989
gangsta rap1989
multiculti1989
new jack swing1989
noise-pop1989
rave1989
Tejano1989
breakbeat1990
chill-out music1990
indie1990
new jack1990
new jill swing1990
noisecore1990
baggy1991
drum and bass1991
gangsta1991
handbag house1991
hip-pop1991
loungecore1991
psychedelic trance1991
shoegazing1991
slowcore1991
techno-house1991
gabba1992
jungle1992
sadcore1992
UK garage1992
darkcore1993
dark side1993
electronica1993
G-funk1993
sampladelia1994
trip hop1994
break1996
psy-trance1996
nu skool1997
folktronica1999
dubstep2002
Bongo Flava2003
grime2003
Bongo2004
singeli2015
1969 Brandon (Manitoba) Sun 1 Apr. 1/5 The downtempo which fits into a limited-area nightclub falls flat in a larger building.
1997 Guardian 15 Nov. (Guide Suppl.) 73/2 Interface Radio Live speed garage, techno, down tempo, drum'n'bass.
1998 Evening Herald (Plymouth) (Nexis) 5 Sept. 26 Club Fandango, Elliot Street: Fandango (easy listening, swing, hip-hop, funk, dub, downtempo), 7 pm–11 pm.
2001 Future Music June 123/1 With the current popularity of downtempo and lounge music, I really wouldn't be surprised to see Modo snapped up by a record company soon.
2015 M. Matos Underground is Massive xvii. 345 The taste for breakbeats also included trip-hop/downtempo and scratch-driven turntablism.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2018; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1957