por·ta·men·to / ˌpôrtəˈmenˌtō/ • n. (pl. -tos or -ti / -tē/ ) Mus. 1. a slide from one note to another, esp. in singing or playing a bowed string instrument. ∎  this as a technique or style.2. piano playing in a manner intermediate between legato and staccato: [as adj.] a portamento style.

portamento (It.). Carrying. With the v. or a bowed instr., the carrying of the sound from note to note smoothly and without any break, hence very legato and momentarily sounding the pitches in between any 2 indicated by the notation. See curved line, various uses of.