The basso continuo or continuo is the figured bass commonly used in music of the Baroque period. It was the normal practice to make use of a bass instrument of some kind (for example a cello or bass viola da gamba) and a chordal instrument (a keyboard instrument or plucked string instrument). The part of the latter is indicated by numbers added to [..]

A characteristic of Baroque music consisting of a bass part that runs continuously throughout a work, also called thoroughbass. If it is figured to indicate the harmony, it is called figured bass.

the instrumental figured-bass part in an ensemble played by one or more bass instruments and a keyboard instrument.

[1,2] literally, continuous bass; a Baroque practice in which a bass line mechanically keeps the beat as well as supplying the foundation of the harmony.

Thorough-bass (really through-bass), a prominent feature of Baroque music. It was first associated with the operatic recitative style, it quickly came to be used for nearly all Baroque musical reperto [..]

 – continuous bass; i.e., a bass part played continuously throughout a piece to give harmonic structure, used especially in the Baroque period

the part of a baroque score (figured bass part) played on two instruments (generally organ or harpsichord and bassoon or 'cello); the musicians who play such a part.

Provides the harmonic structure of the music. The phrase is often shortened to continuo, and the instrumentalists playing the continuo part, if more than one, are called the continuo group. The titles [..]