Canto \Can"to\, n.; pl. {Cantos}. [It. canto, fr. L. cantus singing, song. See {Chant}.] 1. One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book. 2. (Mus.) The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano. {Canto fermo}[It.] (Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the plain song.