forte
/ˈfɔːteɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /fɔːrt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfɔː.teɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɔːr.teɪ/ (ame, ipa)
forte — noun
- fortesingular
- fortesplural
1. a kind of work, subject, or activity that a person does especially well
a kind of work, subject, or activity that a person does especially well
Writing short speeches is Omar's forte, but budgeting is not.
pattern: [activity] is someone's forte
At the clinic, Mira's forte is calming nervous children.
Data charts are not Evelyn's forte, so Liang checked the report.
Quick repairs have always been Beatriz's forte at the hotel.
- weakness
something a person does not do well
文法句型
[activity] is someone's forte
not someone's forte
用法筆記
Usually appears in the pattern 'be someone's forte' to name a special skill. It is normally singular, even when a person is good at several things.
常見錯誤
2. a loud section in a musical work, or a short passage written to be played with s
a loud section in a musical work, or a short passage written to be played with strong volume
The band saved the first forte for the chorus after the quiet verse.
music noun: a loud section in a piece
Trang counted the rests before the forte at the top of page three.
In rehearsal, the conductor asked for a shorter forte in the brass.
The final forte felt too heavy, so the choir sang it again.
- loud passage
plain English wording rather than the musical term
- climax
can be louder, but it refers more broadly to the high point of a piece
- piano
a quiet passage or dynamic marking
文法句型
the forte before [section]
a final forte
用法筆記
This sense names the loud stretch of music itself. Distinguish from adverb/1, which refers to the printed direction on the page, and from adverb/2, which describes the way performers actually play.
3. the section of a fencing blade nearest the handle, where the metal gives the fen
the section of a fencing blade nearest the handle, where the metal gives the fencer the firmest control
The coach told Aarav to parry with the forte, not the tip.
fencing: parry with the forte
During drills, Yael kept the foil's forte close to the guard.
Rachid used the forte of his blade to block the attack.
In the lesson, the class marked the forte between the middle and hilt.
- strong part
plain descriptive wording, not the technical fencing term
- foible
the weaker outer part of the blade
文法句型
the forte of the blade
parry with the forte
用法筆記
Used in fencing and sword description, not for everyday tools. It refers to the part nearer the handle, rather than the weaker end near the tip.
forte — adverb
1. written on a score to tell musicians that the next notes or section should be pl
written on a score to tell musicians that the next notes or section should be played loudly
The editor printed forte above the trumpet entry in red.
pattern: write forte above a line
On the new score, forte appears after two bars of silence.
Xiu circled the forte marking before the school concert.
Please write forte where the drums join the strings.
- fortissimo
a stronger marking that asks for even more volume
- loudly
plain English wording rather than the score instruction
- piano
marks a quiet level instead
文法句型
write forte above [line]
mark [entry] forte
用法筆記
This sense names the printed direction on the page itself. Distinguish from adverb/2, which describes the way the music sounds in performance.
2. with the music being played at a loud level of sound
with the music being played at a loud level of sound
The students sang the last line forte and then cut off together.
pattern: sing [line] forte
Liang played the opening chord forte without losing the beat.
pattern: play [chord] forte
At rehearsal, the horns came in forte after the soft piano phrase.
The quartet returned forte when the dance theme came back.
- loudly
general adverb; less specific than the musical term
- fortissimo
asks for a louder and stronger effect than forte
文法句型
sing [line] forte
play [chord] forte
用法筆記
Usually follows a performance verb such as play, sing, or come in. Distinguish from adverb/1, which labels the score, not the actual sound made by the performers.
常見錯誤
forte — adjective
- fortepositive
- more fortecomparative
- most fortesuperlative
1. used for music that should be performed at a loud volume
used for music that should be performed at a loud volume
The teacher wanted a forte ending, not a sudden shout.
pattern: forte + musical noun
We practiced the forte section until the brass sounded even.
Christopher missed the forte chord and came in too softly.
The score gives the choir a forte entrance after the solo.
- loud
general adjective without the special music sense
- fortissimo
stronger than forte and used for greater volume
- piano
used for a quiet section or entry
文法句型
a forte ending
a forte chord
a forte entrance
用法筆記
Most often comes before nouns such as ending, section, chord, or entrance. Distinguish from adverb/2, which describes how performers play, rather than naming the quality of the section itself.