solo

adj

Etymology: Borrowed from Italian solo, from Latin sōlus, probably related to se (“himself”).

1. Without a companion or instructor.

   “Represented by Olney Gleason gallery, she was the subject of a 2025 solo show at the MSU Broad Art Museum in Michigan and recently unveiled a permanent installation at the Princeton University Art Museum.”

2. Of, or relating to, a musical solo.

   “I can appreciate that Macca’s band plays faithful to the source material, never putting too obvious a personal spin on the music. It’s sometimes frustrating, especially when the solo part in “Get Back” is screaming for some impromptu finesse, but it’s mostly fair.”

adv

Etymology: Borrowed from Italian solo, from Latin sōlus, probably related to se (“himself”).

1. Alone, without a companion.

   “Two of us wearing raincoats / Standing solo / In the sun”

   “Wake me up before you go-go / 'Cause I'm not plannin' on going solo”

name

1. A surname

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Italian solo, from Latin sōlus, probably related to se (“himself”).

1. A piece of music for one performer.
2. A job or performance done by one person alone.
3. A card game similar to whist in which each player plays against the others in turn without a partner
4. A single shot of espresso.
5. An instance of soloing the football.

verb

Etymology: Borrowed from Italian solo, from Latin sōlus, probably related to se (“himself”).

1. To perform a solo.
2. To perform something in the absence of anyone else.
3. To drop the ball and then toe-kick it upward into the hands.
4. To independently perform an action, especially a challenging task.