\Ap*pog`gia*tu"ra\, n. [It., fr. appogiarre to
lean, to rest; ap- (L. ad) + poggiare to mount, ascend,
poggio hill, fr. L. podium an elevated place.] (Mus.)
A passing tone preceding an essential tone, and borrowing the
time it occupies from that; a short auxiliary or grace note
one degree above or below the principal note unless it be of
the same harmony; -- generally indicated by a note of smaller
size, as in the illustration above. It forms no essential
part of the harmony.