impromptu

Borrowed from French impromptu.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɹɒmptju/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈpɹɑmpt(j)u/

impromptu (not comparable)

1. Improvised; without prior preparation, planning or rehearsal.

   Synonyms: extemporaneous, unplanned; see also Thesaurus:impromptu

   The party began with an impromptu rendition of 'Happy Birthday'.

   an impromptu speech

impromptu (plural impromptus)

1. (music) A short musical composition for an informal occasion often with the character of improvisation and usually to be played solo.
   • 1997, Christopher H. Gibbs, The Cambridge Companion to Schubert, Cambridge University Press (ISBN 9781139825320), page 168:

     The second impromptu is a dance-like Allegretto in A flat major, with a trio in D flat major employing arpeggiated textures.

2. (by extension) Any composition, musical or otherwise, that is created on the spot without preparation.

From Latin adverbial locution in promptu; in + prōmptus (“ready, at hand”)

• IPA^(key): /ɛ̃.pʁɔ̃p.ty/

impromptu (feminine singular impromptue, masculine plural impromptus, feminine plural impromptues)

1. improvised, not planned.

   une visite impromptue. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

impromptu m (plural impromptus)

1. improvised action

   Synonym: improviste

   À l'impromptu. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 1868, Sainte-Beuve, Pensées:

     Talleyrand prévoyait à l'avance ses bons mots, que la circonstance lui tirait ensuite à l'impromptu.

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

2. (music) impromptu

   Synonyms: improvisation, impro

   • 1928, Du Bos, Journal:

     Quand je faisais mentalement des réserves sur Fauré, celles-ci portaient sur les Barcarolles, les Nocturnes et les Impromptus.

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

• “impromptu” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Borrowed from French impromptu.

• Rhymes: -u

impromptu m (invariable)

1. (music) impromptu

   Synonym: improvviso