crescendo

/krəˈʃendəʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /krəˈʃendəʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō/ (ame, mw)

crescendo — noun

  • crescendosingular
  • crescendosplural

1. a part of music or another continuing sound that becomes louder little by little

1.名詞C1
釋義

a part of music or another continuing sound that becomes louder little by little, or the loudest point reached after that rise

例句

As Caleb played the final bars, the violin line grew into a full crescendo.

grow into a crescendo

The choir saved its strongest crescendo for the last line of the hymn.

同義詞
  • swell

    often describes the same rise in sound, especially in music or film soundtracks

  • build-up

    broader and less musical; can describe tension as well as sound

  • climax

    focuses more on the top point than on the gradual rise

反義詞
  • decrescendo

    music term for a gradual move toward softer sound

文法句型

a crescendo

build to a crescendo

reach a crescendo

用法筆記

Usually refers to a gradual rise, not a single loud sound. In music writing, it can name either the whole rise in volume or the point where that rise tops out.

常見錯誤

❌The speaker started with a crescendo.
✅The speaker started loudly.
💡'crescendo' suggests a rise toward loudness, not a loud beginning.

2. a steady rise in excitement, danger, action, or emotion, or the point where that

2.名詞C1
釋義

a steady rise in excitement, danger, action, or emotion, or the point where that rise feels strongest

例句

Crowd noise built to a crescendo when Adaeze stepped onto the championship court.

build to a crescendo

The argument reached a dangerous crescendo after both drivers left their cars.

同義詞
  • build-up

    stresses the developing rise before a key event

  • climax

    usually points to the highest moment rather than the whole rise

  • peak

    more general and less dramatic in tone

  • upsurge

    often used for a sudden rise, while 'crescendo' suggests stages

反義詞
  • lull

    a quiet or inactive stretch after energy falls away

  • decline

    a movement downward rather than upward

文法句型

a crescendo of + noun

build to a crescendo

reach a crescendo

用法筆記

This figurative sense keeps the idea of something rising in stages. It is common in news or narrative writing about tension, applause, violence, or emotion.

常見錯誤

❌The film opened with a crescendo of action.
✅The film built to a crescendo of action.
💡a 'crescendo' normally comes after a gradual rise, not at the start.

crescendo — adverb