ETYM Italian, p. p. of staccere, equivalent to distaccare. Related to Detach.
Marked by or composed of disconnected parts or sounds; (music) cut short crisply; SYN. disconnected.
Music, with notes sharply separated.
In music, a term used to describe a continuous passage in which every note is separately articulated rather than phrased continuously (legato “joined”). Staccato gives an upbeat feel to a passage, for example the opening of the scherzo to Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony No 6 1807–08.
Separating the notes; in music