presto

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Adverb
• HYPHEN: pres=to

CIDE DICTIONARY

presto, adv. [It. or Sp. presto quick, quickly. See Prest, a.].

•  Quickly; immediately; in haste; suddenly.  [1913 Webster]

  "Presto! begone! 'tis here again."  [1913 Webster]
•  Quickly; rapidly; -- a direction for a quick, lively movement or performance; quicker than allegro, or any rate of time except prestissimo.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

presto, adv. & n.
--adv.
1 Mus. in quick tempo.
2 (in a conjuror's formula in performing a trick) quickly (hey presto!).
--n. (pl. -os) Mus. a movement to be played in a quick tempo.

Etymology

It. f. LL praestus f. L praesto ready

THESAURUS

presto

accelerando, adagietto, adagio, affrettando, allegretto, allegro, andante, andante tempo, andantino, beat, compound time, con anima, con brio, crescendo, decrescendo, desto, diminuendo, duple time, expeditiously, flat-out, forte, fortissimo, full tilt, hastily, immediate, instant, instantaneous, larghetto, larghissimo, largo, legato, lickety-split, lightning-like, marcando, march tempo, mixed times, moderato, momentaneous, momentary, pianissimo, piano, pizzicato, posthaste, prestissimo, quick as lightning, quick as thought, quickly, rag, ragtime, rallentando, rapidly, ritardando, ritenuto, rubato, scherzando, scherzo, sextuple time, simple time, spiccato, staccato, stretto, syncopation, syncope, tempo, tempo rubato, three-quarter time, time, time pattern, timing, triple time, triplet, two-four time, veloce, vivace, vivacissimo, waltz time

ROGET THESAURUS

presto

Instantaneity

N instantaneity, instantaneousness, immediacy, suddenness, abruptness, moment, instant, second, minute, twinkling, trice, flash, breath, crack, jiffy, coup, burst, flash of lightning, stroke of time, epoch, time, time of day, time of night, hour, minute, very minute, very time, very hour, present time, right time, true time, exact correct time, instantaneous, momentary, sudden, immediate, instant, abrupt, discontinuous, precipitous, precipitant, precipitate, subitaneous, hasty, quick as thought, quick as lightning, quick as a flash, rapid as electricity, speedy, quick, fast, fleet, swift, lively, blitz, rapid (velocity), instantaneously, in no time, in less than no time, presto, subito, instanter, suddenly, at a stroke, like a shot, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, in the twinkling of an eye, in a trice, in one's tracks, right away, toute a l'heure, at one jump, in the same breath, per saltum, uno saltu, at once, all at once, plump, slap, at one fell swoop, at the same instant, immediately, extempore, on the moment, on the spot, on the spur of the moment, no sooner said than done, just then, slap-dash, touch and go, no sooner said than done.

Music

N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.