trombone

noun

trom·​bone träm-ˈbōn 

(ˌ)trəm-ˈbōn,

ˈträm-ˌbōn

: 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

trombonist

träm-ˈbō-nist 

(ˌ)trəm-ˈbō-

ˈträm-ˌbō-

noun

Illustration of trombone

Examples of trombone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every spring, New Orleans distills its essence—music, food, culture, and humidity that could melt your trombone—into two weekends of joyful, full-throttle celebration. —David Hochman, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

That section’s willingness to hush itself contrasted mightily with the inability of the trumpets and trombones to do the same. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

At one point the cellos were lost in the surging string layers; later, a trombone entrance came out more or less staggered. —Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

Paez’s father, Ezequiel Paez, was a trombone player and arranger for renowned groups like Los Moonlights and La Banda Del Recodo. —David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trombone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

trombone

noun

trom·​bone träm-ˈbōn 

(ˌ)trəm-

: a brass wind instrument with a section that can slide in and out to make different tones

trombonist

-ˈbō-nəst 

noun

Etymology

from Italian trombone, literally "large trumpet," from tromba "trumpet"