double bass

noun

: the largest and lowest-pitched of the stringed instruments that is tuned in fourths
double bassist noun

Illustration of double bass

Illustration of double bass

Examples of double bass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web According to her personal website, Jaouad attended the pre-college program for the double bass at The Juilliard School. Taiwo Balogun, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2023 At Darmstadt, the musicians in this chamber ensemble — including singers, woodwinds, brasses, an accordion and two double basses — prerecorded a take on No. 443 the day before the concert. Seth Colter Walls, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2023 Both theme songs make heavy use of the lower strings of violas, cellos and double basses, which further darken the sonic palette. Delia Casadei, The Conversation, 31 May 2023 The slap of the double bass strings on the fingerboard can be heard in their tiniest detail. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 3 May 2023 Higgins plays double bass and lives in Massachusetts. Amanda Gokee, BostonGlobe.com, 11 July 2023 Low slides for double basses and trombone are contrasted with high trumpet assertions and chatters (impressively played by Russell Campbell). Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 22 June 2023 Bill Lee played double bass in jazz groups in Atlanta and Chicago before moving to New York in 1959. Vulture, 24 May 2023 Here, too, double basses and cellos resonated like sonic pilings dug deeply into the symphonic earth, becoming the foundation of the longest symphony in the standard repertory. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double bass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of double bass was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near double bass

Cite this Entry

“Double bass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double%20bass. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

double bass

noun
: the largest instrument of the violin family

More from Merriam-Webster on double bass

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