Vibrato is a musical effect where a note slightly and quickly wobbles in pitch, making the sound warmer and more expressive. Singers and instrumentalists often use it to add emotion to long notes.
From Italian 'vibrato', meaning 'vibrated', from 'vibrare' meaning 'to vibrate or shake'. It entered musical language as Italian terms became standard in Western music notation.
Vibrato is basically controlled shaking—tiny pitch waves that trick your ear into hearing richness and emotion. Without it, many performances sound flat or mechanical, even if the notes are correct. It shows how a little imperfection, used well, can feel more human.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.