Main Entry:

sax·o·phone

Pronunciation:

\ˈsak-sə-ˌfōn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, from Antoine Sax †1894 Belgian instrument maker + French -phone

Date:

1851

: one of a group of single-reed woodwind instruments ranging from soprano to bass and characterized by a conical metal tube and finger keys

— sax·o·phon·ic \ˌsak-sə-ˈfō-nik, -ˈfä-\ adjective

— sax·o·phon·ist \ˈsak-sə-ˌfō-nist, especially British sak-ˈsä-fə-\ noun

[saxophone illustration]