tempo

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian tempo, from Latin tempus (“time”). Doublet of tense.

noun

1. A frequency or rate.
   10 calls per hour isn't a bad start, but we'll need to up the tempo if we want to reach our target of selling insurance policies.
2. (chess) A move which is part of one's own plan or strategy and forces, e.g. by means of a check or attacking a piece, the opponent to make a move which is not bad but of no use for him (the player gains a tempo, the opponent loses a tempo), or equivalently a player achieves the same result in fewer moves by one approach rather than another.
3. (bridge) The timing advantage of being on lead, thus being first to initiate a strategy to develop tricks for one's side.
4. The timing of a particular event – earlier or later than in an alternative situation (as in chess example)
5. (music) The number of beats per minute in a piece of music; also, an indicative term denoting approximate rate of speed in written music (examples: allegro, andante)
6. (cycling) The steady pace set by the frontmost riders.
7. A small truck or cargo van with three or four wheels, commonly used for commercial transport and deliveries (particularly in Asian and African countries): a genericized trademark, originally associated with the manufacturer Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werke GmbH.
8. (American football) A rapid rate of play by the offense resulting from reducing the amount of time which elapses after one play ends and the next starts.
9. A temporary carport.