crescendo

Universal Words noun (plural crescendos) [C,U] 1 (music) a gradual increase in how loudly a piece of music is played or sung OPPDIMINUENDO 2 a gradual increase in noise; the loudest point of a period of continuous noise SYNSWELL: Voices rose in a crescendo and drowned him out. * There was a tremendous crescendo of noise. * The shrieks of laughter rose to a crescendo. * (figurative) The advertising campaign reached a crescendo just before Christmas.