Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Basso \Bas"so\, n. [It., fr. LL. bassus. See {Base}, a.] (Mus.)
      (a) The bass or lowest part; as, to sing basso.
      (b) One who sings the lowest part.
      (c) The double bass, or {contrabasso}.

   {Basso continuo}. [It., bass continued.] (Mus.) A bass part
      written out continuously, while the other parts of the
      harmony are indicated by figures attached to the bass;
      continued bass.

Source : WordNet®

basso continuo
     n : a bass part written out in full and accompanied by numbers
         to indicate the chords to be played [syn: {figured bass},
          {continuo}, {thorough bass}]