noun / adjective
virtuoso
vur-choo-OH-soh/ˌvɜːrtʃuˈəʊsəʊ/
A person with exceptional artistic skill, especially in music, or showing such skill.
The piano virtuoso performs confidently before the attentive audience.
Etymology
Italian virtuoso described someone skilled, learned, or of exceptional worth. In English, the label shifted from a connoisseur who appreciated artistic excellence to someone who displayed it through exceptional technical mastery.
More examples
- Her virtuoso brushwork brings every face in the portrait to life.
- Two piano virtuosos share the stage at tonight's concert.
- He is a guitar virtuoso, but he still practices every day.
Forms
virtuoso · virtuosos · virtuosi
virtuosity noun — Exceptional technical skill in artistic performance.