FORTE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does forte mean? 

• FORTE (noun)
  The noun FORTE has 3 senses:

1. an asset of special worth or utility

2. a musical composition or musical passage to be performed loudly

3. the stronger part of a sword blade between the hilt and the foible

  Familiarity information: FORTE used as a noun is uncommon.

• FORTE (adjective)
  The adjective FORTE has 1 sense:

1. (used chiefly as a direction or description in music) loud; with force

  Familiarity information: FORTE used as an adjective is very rare.

• FORTE (adverb)
  The adverb FORTE has 1 sense:

1. used as a direction in music; to be played relatively loudly

  Familiarity information: FORTE used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FORTE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An asset of special worth or utility

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

forte; long suit; metier; speciality; specialty; strength; strong point; strong suit

Context example:

cooking is his forte

Hypernyms ("forte" is a kind of...):

asset; plus (a useful or valuable quality)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "forte"):

green fingers; green thumb (a special ability to make plants grow)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A musical composition or musical passage to be performed loudly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("forte" is a kind of...):

musical passage; passage (a short section of a musical composition)

Derivation:

forte ((used chiefly as a direction or description in music) loud; with force)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The stronger part of a sword blade between the hilt and the foible

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("forte" is a kind of...):

part; portion (something less than the whole of a human artifact)

Holonyms ("forte" is a part of...):

blade; brand; steel; sword (a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard)

• FORTE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(used chiefly as a direction or description in music) loud; with force

Synonyms:

forte; loud

Context example:

the forte passages in the composition

Similar:

fortemente ((chiefly a direction or description in music) loud and strong)

fortissimo ((chiefly a direction or description in music) very loud and strong)

Antonym:

piano ((used chiefly as a direction or description in music) soft; in a quiet, subdued tone)

Derivation:

forte (a musical composition or musical passage to be performed loudly)

• FORTE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used as a direction in music; to be played relatively loudly

Synonyms:

forte; loudly

Antonym:

piano (used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly)

Pertainym:

forte ((used chiefly as a direction or description in music) loud; with force)

 Context examples 

Willoughby opened the piano-forte, and asked Marianne to sit down to it; and thus amidst the various endeavours of different people to quit the topic, it fell to the ground.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

And we agreed it would be best to have the harp, for it seems to amuse her more than the piano-forte.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Researchers from Princeton University in the United States and Uppsala University in Sweden reported the new species evolved in just two generations, though this process had been believed to take much longer, due to breeding between an endemic Darwin finch, Geospiza fortes, and the immigrant cactus finch, Geospiza conirostris.

(Researchers report rapid formation of new bird species in Galápagos islands, Wikinews)

Know, that in the course of your future life you will often find yourself elected the involuntary confidant of your acquaintances' secrets: people will instinctively find out, as I have done, that it is not your forte to tell of yourself, but to listen while others talk of themselves; they will feel, too, that you listen with no malevolent scorn of their indiscretion, but with a kind of innate sympathy; not the less comforting and encouraging because it is very unobtrusive in its manifestations.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

After dinner she would try her piano-forte.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

To the Great House accordingly they went, to sit the full half hour in the old-fashioned square parlour, with a small carpet and shining floor, to which the present daughters of the house were gradually giving the proper air of confusion by a grand piano-forte and a harp, flower-stands and little tables placed in every direction.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I shall go to the piano-forte; I have not touched it since it was tuned.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Marianne can never keep long from that instrument you know, ma'am, said Elinor, endeavouring to smooth away the offence; and I do not much wonder at it; for it is the very best toned piano-forte I ever heard.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The effect of his discourse on the lady too, could not escape her observation, for though she was too honorable to listen, and had even changed her seat, on purpose that she might NOT hear, to one close by the piano forte on which Marianne was playing, she could not keep herself from seeing that Elinor changed colour, attended with agitation, and was too intent on what he said to pursue her employment.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)