lamellophone

noun

la·​mel·​lo·​phone lə-ˈme-lə-ˌfōn How to pronounce lamellophone (audio)
variants or less commonly lamellaphone
plural lamellophones also lamellaphones
: any of a class of musical instruments (such as the mbira, Jew's harp, or music box) whose sound is generated by plucking flexible tuned tongues of metal, wood, cane, or other material attached at one end to a small board or resonator and plucked with the thumbs or fingers or activated mechanically

called also linguaphone, thumb piano

compare aerophone, chordophone, electrophone, idiophone, membranophone

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lamellophone was in 1979

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near lamellophone

Cite this Entry

“Lamellophone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lamellophone. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!