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alto

noun, plural al·tos.

the lowest female voice; contralto.
the highest male voice; countertenor.
a singer with such a voice.
a musical part for such a voice.
the second highest of the four parts of a mixed vocal chorus, or the voices or persons singing this part.
the second highest instrument in a family of musical instruments, as the viola in the violin family or the althorn in the cornet family.

adjective

of, relating to, or having the tonal range of the alto.
(of a musical instrument) second highest in a family of musical instruments: alto saxophone.

variant of alti-: altostratus.

noun plural -tos

the highest adult male voice; countertenor
(in choral singing) a shortened form of contralto
a singer with such a voice
another name for viola 1 (def. 1)
a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

adjective

denoting a flute, saxophone, etc, that is the third or fourth highest instrument in its group

combining form

highaltocumulus; altostratus

1784, “man with an alto voice,” from Italian alto (canto), from Latin altus “high” (see old). Originally a “high” man’s voice, now more commonly applied to the lower range of women’s voices (which is more strictly the contralto), an extension first recorded in 1881.

The alto in a man is totally distinct from the contralto in a woman. The tone is utterly different — the best notes of the one are certainly not the best notes of the other; and although in certain cases a contralto may sing with good effect music written for a male alto (e.g. in some oratorios), yet the converse is scarcely ever true. [“How to Sing,” 1890]

As a type of saxophone, from 1869.

The lowest range of the female singing voice, also called contralto. (Compare mezzo soprano and soprano.)