calliope
noun
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With a name literally meaning "beautiful-voiced" (from kallos, meaning "beauty," and ops, meaning "voice"), Calliope was the most prominent of the Muses—the nine sister goddesses who in Greek mythology presided over poetry, song, and the arts and sciences. She is represented in art as holding an epic poem in one hand and a trumpet in the other. The musical instrument invented and patented in the 1850s, played by forcing steam or compressed air through a series of whistles, was named after the goddess. Because its sound could be heard for miles around, the calliope was effective in luring patrons to river showboats, circuses, and carnivals, which is why the instrument continues its association with such attractions today.
Examples of calliope in a Sentence
Tim Ebner, Washington Post, 10 July 2024
Calliope Hummingbird – One of the smallest hummingbirds in the U.S. the calliope has magenta smears on its throat with pale green on the sides.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024
Or maybe stroll along the bustling Public Landing, listening to the cadence of the dockworkers and the calliope whistles of the steamboats.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2024
Other species that are less common but have been seen in the state are calliope, Allen’s and Anna’s hummingbirds.
—Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2023
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Cite this Entry
“Calliope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calliope. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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calliope
noun
named for Calliope, one of the nine goddesses in Greek mythology who had control over music and poetry
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