1. A Medieval term that refers to the range of pitches used in a melodic line or voice of a composition. A ambitus is considered narrow if it is a sixth or less, normal if it is about an octave, and wide if it is an eleventh or more.
2. The pitch range of a mode or plainchant.
3. The pitch range of any musical instrument.

Also [Fr.] ambitus; [Ger.] ambitus; [It.] ambitus; [Sp.] ambitus