solo

/soh"loh/, n., pl. solos, soli /-lee/, adj., adv., v.

n.

1. a musical composition or a passage or section in a musical composition written for performance by one singer or instrumentalist, with or without accompaniment: She sang a solo.

2. any performance, as a dance, by one person.

3. a flight in an airplane during which the pilot is unaccompanied by an instructor or other person: I'll be ready for my first solo next week.

4. a person who works, acts, or performs alone: He used to sing with a quartet, but now he's a solo.

5. a person who performs or accomplishes something without the usual equipment, tools, etc.

6. Informal. an announcement, commercial offering, etc., made to only one person or a selected group of such persons: Each month the firm sends a solo to its best customers.

7. Cards. any of certain games in which one person plays alone against others.

adj.

8. Music. performing alone: a part for solo bassoon.

9. performed alone; not combined with other parts of equal importance; not concerted.

10. alone; without a companion or partner: a solo flight.

adv.

11. on one's own; alone or unaccompanied: After six lessons he was flying solo.

v.i.

12. to perform or do a solo: to solo on the trumpet.

13. to pilot a plane, glider, etc., unaccompanied, esp. for the first time: After the course the students should be able to solo.

14. to perform or accomplish something by oneself.

v.t.

15. to pilot (a plane, glider, etc.) unaccompanied.

16. to allow (a student pilot) to pilot a plane, glider, etc., alone: The instructor decided to solo the student.

[1685-95; < It < L solus alone]

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