presto

UK: /ˈprɛstəʊ/ US: /ˈprɛstoʊ/ ,(pres′tō)

Inflections of 'presto' (n): npl: prestos

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pres•to /ˈprɛstoʊ/   adv., adj., n., pl. -tos. 
adv. 

1. quickly, rapidly, or immediately:
   He left presto.
2. Music and Dance Music. at a rapid tempo.

adj. 

3. quick or rapid.
4. Music and Dance performed at a rapid tempo.

n. [countable]

5. Music and Dance a presto musical piece or movement.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pres•to  (pres′tō), adv., adj., n., pl. -tos. 
adv. 

1. quickly, rapidly, or immediately.
2. Music and Dance at a rapid tempo (used as a musical direction).

adj. 

3. quick or rapid.
4. Music and Dance executed at a rapid tempo (used as a musical direction).

n. 

5. Music and Dance a movement or piece in quick tempo.

• Late Latin praestus (adjective, adjectival) ready, Latin praestō (adverb, adverbial) at hand
• Italian: quick, quickly
• 1590–1600

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

presto / ˈprɛstəʊ/ adjective , adverb

1. to be played very fast

adverb

1. immediately, suddenly, or at once (esp in the phrase hey presto)

noun ( -tos)

1. a movement or passage directed to be played very quickly

Etymology: 16th Century: from Italian: fast, from Late Latin praestus (adj) ready to hand, Latin praestō (adv) present