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Alto

Origin: It. Alto high, fr. L. Altus. Cf. Alt.

1. Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or counter-tenor, voices; now the part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor.

2. An alto singer. Alto clef the counter-tenor clef, or the c clef, placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of the staff.