tempo

UK /ˈtɛm.pəʊ/ · US /ˈtɛm.poʊ/ noun, proper noun

Forms tempos tempi Tempoes

1. noun 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. noun (chess) 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. noun (bridge) The timing advantage of being on lead, thus being first to initiate a strategy to develop tricks for one's side.
4. noun The timing of a particular event – earlier or later than in an alternative situation. “the tempo effect in fertility measurements”
5. noun (music) 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. noun (cycling) The steady pace set by the frontmost riders.
7. noun A small truck or cargo van with three or four wheels, commonly used for commercial transport and deliveries (particularly in Asian and African countries).
8. noun (American football) A rapid rate of play by the offense resulting from reducing the amount of time which elapses after one play ends and the next starts.
9. noun A temporary carport.
10. noun (Quebec, automotive) A type of car shelter, a temporary kit-built prefabricated steel-framed high tunnel peaked hoop house with an impermeable translucent plastic fabric cover, and flap doors.
11. proper noun A female given name.

Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “tempo”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details