tremolo

noun

trem·​o·​lo ˈtre-mə-ˌlō 

plural tremolos

1

a

: the rapid reiteration of a musical tone or of alternating tones to produce a tremulous effect

b

: vocal vibrato especially when prominent or excessive

2

: a mechanical device in an organ for causing a tremulous effect

Examples of tremolo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Where previously players could only activate one effect at a time, up to four effects can now sound simultaneously – with users able to choose from chorus, vibrato, flanger, delay (with tap tempo), reverb (acoustic, hall or plate) and tremolo (sine/triangle) out of the box. —Paul Ridden, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2024

Modulation effects include chorus, phaser, flangers, vibrato pedals and tremolos. —New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2024

The tremolo of excitement in the Rose Theatre reminded me of previous summertime glories there, under the aegis of the Mostly Mozart Festival and the Lincoln Center Festival. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2024

Amps were played pretty clean most of the time, the gentle 'tremolo bridge' had yet to be recast as the wild, feedback-screaming 'whammy bar,' and the three-way pickup selector switch wasn't designed to get jammed in between positions. —New Atlas, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from tremolo tremulous, from Latin tremulus

First Known Use

circa 1801, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tremolo

noun

trem·​o·​lo ˈtrem-ə-ˌlō 

plural tremolos

1

: the rapid repetition of a musical tone or of alternating tones to produce a rapid wavering sound

2

: a mechanical device in an organ for causing a rapid wavering sound