altos

1 definition found

altos - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Alto \Al"to\, n.; pl. Altos. [It. alto high, fr. L. altus. Cf.
     Alt.]
     1. (Mus.) Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or
        counter-tenor, voices; now the part sung by the lowest
        female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and
        soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An alto singer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Alto clef (Mus.) the counter-tenor clef, or the C clef,
        placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of
        the staff. --Moore.
        [1913 Webster]