An alto or male alto is a man who has the highest male singing voice.
In the recording I have today, it is sung by a male alto.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
An alto musical instrument has a range of notes of medium pitch.
...the alto saxophone.
alto in British English
(ˈæltəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-tos
1.
the highest adult male voice; countertenor
2. (in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto
3.
a singer with such a voice
4. another name for viola1 (sense 1)
5.
a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group
adjective
6.
denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument inits group
Word origin
C18: from Italian: high, from Latin altus
alto- in British English
combining form
high
altocumulus
altostratus
Word origin
from Latin altus high
high in British English
(haɪ)
adjective
1.
being a relatively great distance from top to bottom; tall
a high building
2.
situated at or extending to a relatively great distance above the ground or above sea level
a high plateau
3.
a. (postpositive)
being a specified distance from top to bottom
three feet high
b.
(in combination)
a seven-foot-high wall
4.
extending from an elevation
a high dive
5. (in combination)
coming up to a specified level
knee-high
6.
being at its peak or point of culmination
high noon
7.
of greater than average height
a high collar
8.
greater than normal in degree, intensity, or amount
high prices
a high temperature
a high wind
9.
of large or relatively large numerical value
high frequency
high voltage
high mileage
10.
(of sound) acute in pitch; having a high frequency
11.
(of latitudes) situated relatively far north or south from the equator
12.
(of meat) slightly decomposed or tainted, regarded as enhancing the flavour of game
13.
of great eminence; very important
the high priestess
14.
exalted in style or character; elevated
high drama
15.
expressing or feeling contempt or arrogance
high words
16.
elated; cheerful
high spirits
17. (predicative) informal
overexcited
by the end of term the children are really high
18. informal
being in a state of altered consciousness, characterized esp by euphoria and often induced by the use of alcohol, narcotics, etc
19.
luxurious or extravagant
high life
20.
advanced in complexity or development
high finance
21.
(of a gear) providing a relatively great forward speed for a given engine speed
Compare low1 (sense 21)
22. phonetics
of, relating to, or denoting a vowel whose articulation is produced by raising the back of the tongue towards the soft palate or the blade towards the hard palate, such as for the ee in English see or oo in English moon
Compare low1 (sense 20)
23. (capital when part of name)
formal and elaborate in style
High Mass
24. (usually capital)
of or relating to the High Church
25.
remote, esp in time
26. cards
a.
having a relatively great value in a suit
b.
able to win a trick
27. high and dry
28. high and low
29. high and mighty
30. high as a kite
31. high opinion
adverb
32.
at or to a height
he jumped high
33.
in a high manner
34. nautical
close to the wind with sails full
noun
35.
a high place or level
36. informal
a state of altered consciousness, often induced by alcohol, narcotics, etc
37. another word for anticyclone
38. short for high school
39. (capital)
(esp in Oxford) the High Street
40. electronics
the voltage level in a logic circuit corresponding to logical one
Compare low1 (sense 30)
41. on high
alto in American English
(ˈæltoʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈaltos
1.
the range of the lowest female voice or the highest male voice
; specif.,
a.
contralto
b.
countertenor
2.
a.
a voice or singer with such a range
b.
an instrument with a similar range within its family, as an alto saxophone
c.
a part for such a voice or instrument
3.
in four-part harmony, the second highest part
adjective
4.
of, for, or having the range of an alto
Word origin
It < L altus, high: see altitude
alto- in American English
(ˈæltoʊ)
high
altostratus
Word origin
< L altus, high
Examples of 'alto' in a sentence
alto
Put simply, a countertenor is an adult male alto.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He ran his own band during school holidays, playing the alto saxophone and the drums at local dances.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She is said to be a straight A student and accomplished skier and alto saxophone player.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The countertenor, or male alto, is a rare musical creature.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
All related terms of 'alto'
alto clef
the clef that establishes middle C as being on the third line of the staff
alto horn
a valved brass musical instrument belonging to the saxhorn or flügelhorn families
alto sax
the third highest member of the saxophone family
male alto
countertenor
Palo Alto
a city in W California , southeast of San Francisco: founded in 1891 as the seat of Stanford University. Pop: 57 233 (2003 est)
alto-relievo
→ high relief
alto-rilievo
→ alto-relievo
Trujillo Alto
city in NE Puerto Rico: pop. 76,000
alto saxophone
the third highest member of the saxophone family
althorn
a valved brass musical instrument belonging to the saxhorn or flügelhorn families
Trentino-Alto Adige
a region of N Italy: consists of the part of the Tyrol south of the Brenner Pass, ceded by Austria after World War I. Pop: 950 495 (2003 est). Area: 13 613 sq km (5256 sq miles)
high relief
relief in which forms and figures stand out from the background to half or more than half of their natural depth