ritardando
1 of 2adverb or adjective
ri·tar·dan·do ri-ˌtär-ˈdän-(ˌ)dō 
ˌrē-
: with a gradual slackening in tempo —used as a direction in music
ritardando
2 of 2noun
plural ritardandos
: a ritardando passage
Word History
Etymology
Adverb or adjective
Italian, from Latin retardandum, gerund of retardare to retard
First Known Use
Adverb Or Adjective
1806, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1838, in the meaning defined above