adverb
- twice; used in music to indicate a passage should be repeated
Usage: musical term
Examples
- The conductor marked the score with ‘bis’ to indicate the repeat.
- In the sheet music, ‘bis’ appeared above the final chorus.
- The pianist noticed the bis marking and played the section again.
- The composer wrote ‘bis’ to emphasize the melodic theme.
- Musicians recognize ‘bis’ as an instruction to repeat the passage.