celesta
noun
ce·les·ta
sə-ˈle-stə 
chə-
variants
or celeste
sə-ˈlest
chə-
: a keyboard instrument with hammers that strike steel plates producing a tone similar to that of a glockenspiel
Examples of celesta in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The orchestra foregrounded glistening timbres of harp, celesta, and vibraphone.
—
Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While that demo suite of Helena’s theme was indeed elegant and even infatuated, Williams proved his mastery at classical film scoring by adapting it into every conceivable mode — quiet mystery on celesta, playful wisecracking on muted trumpets — to map perfectly onto the character’s arc.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Rivera first speaks to Kahlo across a magically spooky texture of xylophone, marimba, celesta, and harp—the River Styx as painted by Monet.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
It is scored for a flutist who also plays alto flute and piccolo, a pianist doubling on celesta, and a percussionist playing glockenspiel, vibraphone, tubular bells, and marimba.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2023
Liam Wooding gently played his keyboards, finding the right balance between piano and celesta (not an easy thing to do).
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2023
The harp and celesta twinkled when accompanying finely shaped horn chorales.
—Dallas News, 29 Apr. 2022
Both here and in Duke Ellington’s Solitude, arranged for string orchestra, celesta and harp by Morton Gould, Cohn also coaxed finely lyrical playing.
—Dallas News, 8 June 2022
The airy tinkling sound that gives the Sugar Plum Fairy’s solo an aspect of the supernatural was produced by a celesta, a French keyboard instrument that Tchaikovsky asked his publisher to order from Paris, in secret.
—Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2022
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Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
While that demo suite of Helena’s theme was indeed elegant and even infatuated, Williams proved his mastery at classical film scoring by adapting it into every conceivable mode — quiet mystery on celesta, playful wisecracking on muted trumpets — to map perfectly onto the character’s arc.
—Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Rivera first speaks to Kahlo across a magically spooky texture of xylophone, marimba, celesta, and harp—the River Styx as painted by Monet.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023
It is scored for a flutist who also plays alto flute and piccolo, a pianist doubling on celesta, and a percussionist playing glockenspiel, vibraphone, tubular bells, and marimba.
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2023
Liam Wooding gently played his keyboards, finding the right balance between piano and celesta (not an easy thing to do).
—Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2023
The harp and celesta twinkled when accompanying finely shaped horn chorales.
—Dallas News, 29 Apr. 2022
Both here and in Duke Ellington’s Solitude, arranged for string orchestra, celesta and harp by Morton Gould, Cohn also coaxed finely lyrical playing.
—Dallas News, 8 June 2022
The airy tinkling sound that gives the Sugar Plum Fairy’s solo an aspect of the supernatural was produced by a celesta, a French keyboard instrument that Tchaikovsky asked his publisher to order from Paris, in secret.
—Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Celesta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/celesta. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
celesta
noun
ce·les·ta
sə-ˈles-tə
: a keyboard instrument with hammers that strike steel plates to make ringing sounds
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