In music notation, this indicates a gradual slowing of the tempo of the music. It is often abbreviated "rall." The word simply means "slowing down" in Italian.

Ral"len*tan"do (?), a. [It.] Mus.

Slackening; -- a direction to perform a passage with a gradual decrease in time and force; ritardando.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.