tempos

Noun

tempo (plural tempos or tempi)

1. A frequency or rate.
   • 10 calls per hour isn't a bad start, but we'll need to up the tempo if we want to reach our target of selling insurance policies.
2. A move which is part of one's own plan or strategy and forces, e.g. by means of a check or attacking a piece, the opponent to make a move which is not bad but of no use (the player gains a tempo, the opponent loses a tempo), or equivalently a player achieves the same result in fewer moves by one approach rather than another.
3. The timing advantage of being on lead, thus being first to initiate a strategy to develop tricks for one's side.
4. The timing of a particular event – earlier or later than in an alternative situation.
   • the tempo effect in fertility measurements
5. The number of beats per minute in a piece of music; also, an indicative term denoting approximate rate of speed in written music (examples: allegro, andante)
   • The conductor asked the orchestra to increase the tempo.
6. The steady pace set by the frontmost riders.

See all 11 meanings of tempo