trombone

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

trombonist

2 of 2

noun (2)

trom·​bon·​ist -nə̇st 

plural -s

: a player on the trombone

Examples of trombone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s a passage in the final movement when the full orchestra, reinforced by trumpets, trombones, tuba, and a thunder roll of timpani, clamber up to a teeth-rattling fortissimo. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026

Sound in modern brass instruments, such as French horns, trombones, and trumpets, is produced when the player vibrates their lips against a metal mouthpiece, moving air through the instrument’s tubing. — Kara Rogers, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2026

He is joined by Nick Lane on trombone and bass trombone, Gabe Noel on cello and bass harmonica and Ryan Tharayil on alto saxophone, flute and clarinet. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026

Through this grant, New Britain received an influx of cellos, French horns, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, tubas, trombones, trumpets, violins and xylophones. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun

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