tempo

1. (chess) A move which is part of one's own plan or strategy and forces, e.g. by means of a check or attacking a piece, the opponent to make a move which is not bad but of no use (the player gains a tempo, the opponent loses a tempo), or equivalently a player achieves the same result in fewer moves by one approach rather than another.

2. (bridge) The timing advantage of being on lead, thus being first to initiate a strategy to develop tricks for one's side.

3. (music) The number of beats per minute in a piece of music; also, an indicative term denoting approximate rate of speed in written music (examples: allegro, andante)

4. (cycling) The steady pace set by the frontmost riders.

5. (American football) A rapid rate of play by the offense resulting from reducing the amount of time which elapses after one play ends and the next starts.