Staccato

adjective
1.
shortened and detached when played or sung:
staccato notes.
2.
characterized by performance in which the notes are abruptly disconnected:
a staccato style of playing.
Compare legato.
3.
composed of or characterized by abruptly disconnected elements; disjointed:
rapid-fire, staccato speech.
adverb
4.
in a staccato manner.
noun, plural staccatos, staccati
[stuh-kah-tee] /stəˈkɑ ti/ (Show IPA)
5.
performance in a staccato manner.
6.
a staccato passage.
adjective
1.
(music) (of notes) short, clipped, and separate
2.
characterized by short abrupt sounds, as in speech: a staccato command
adverb
3.
(esp used as a musical direction) in a staccato manner
staccato [(stuh-kah-toh)]

A direction in music meaning that the notes should be performed in an abrupt, sharp, clear-cut manner.

Note: The term staccato has been applied generally to things that occur in rapid bursts, such as gunfire.