The Italian term pizzicato means

The Italian term pizzicato means

  1. pointed
  2. painted
  3. pushed
  4. plucked ✓

Explanation

Pizzicato means plucked in Italian. String players use their fingers to pluck strings instead of using the bow.

This technique creates a short, bouncy sound. Violins, cellos, and basses all use pizzicato for special effects.

Musicians often abbreviate this as pizz in sheet music. It is a common technique in orchestral and solo music.