trombone

trom·bone

noun \träm-ˈbōn, (ˌ)trəm-ˈ, ˈträm-ˌ\

: a large brass musical instrument that you blow into and that has a tube that you slide in and out to play different notes

Full Definition of TROMBONE

:  a brass instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube with two turns and having a movable slide or valves for varying the tone and a usual range one octave lower than that of the trumpet

— trom·bon·ist \-ˈbō-nist, -ˌbō-\ noun

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Illustration of TROMBONE

Origin of TROMBONE

Italian, augmentative of tromba trumpet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use: circa 1724

Rhymes with TROMBONE

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trombone

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Brass instrument with an extendable slide with which the length of its tubing can be increased. It has a mostly cylindrical bore and a cup-shaped mouthpiece. The slide performs the same function as the valves in other brass instruments. Valve trombones, both with and without slides, were developed in the early 19th century; they provide increased agility but diminished tone quality. The trombone exists in several sizes; the tenor trombone in B-flat is the standard instrument, but the bass trombone is also used orchestrally. The trombone (long known as the sackbut) developed in the 15th century and has changed little over 400 years. By the 16th century it had been adopted by town, court, church, and military bands; it was employed in early opera orchestras, but it only began to be used in the symphony orchestra c. 1800. In the 20th century it became important in dance and jazz bands.