forte

Noun · Adjective · Adverb
US[fawr-tey]/ˈfɔrteɪ/1–2 syllablesalso [fawrt] /fɔrt/

Open English WordNet

Noun (3)

  1. an asset of special worth or utility“cooking is his forte”Synonyms: strong suitlong suitmetierspecialtyspecialitystrong pointstrengthType of asset, plusKinds green thumb, green fingers
  2. a musical composition or musical passage to be performed loudlyType of passage, musical passage
  3. the stronger part of a sword blade between the hilt and the foibleType of part, portionPart of sword, blade

Adjective (1)

  1. (used chiefly as a direction or description in music) indicating that said piece or segment should be played loudly“the forte passages in the composition”Synonyms: loudOpposite pianoSimilar fortissimo, fortemente

Adverb (1)

  1. used as a direction in music; to be played relatively loudlySynonyms: loudlyOpposite piano
Word of the day · Oct 11About this word

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Forte (fōrt), noun

Origin: IT. forte: cf. F. fort. See Fort.

1. The strong point; that in which one excels.

The construction of a fable seems by no means the forte of our modern poetical writers.— Lord Francis Jeffrey

2. The stronger part of the blade of a sword; the part of half nearest the hilt; — opposed to foible.


For′te (fôr′tā or fōr′tā), adverb

Origin: It. forte, adjective & adverb, fr. L. fortis strong.

Music Loudly; strongly; powerfully.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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