1. A small flute that sounds an octave above the regular flute and an octave above its written music. The piccolo today is commonly pitched in "C" but the "D-flat" piccolo was common through the 1950's. The range of the "C" piccolo is d² to c⁵.
2. A name for an instrument of particularly high range, such as the piccolo trumpet.

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLE:

Vivaldi: Concerto for Piccolo in C major, I (piccolo entrance)

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 3