calliope

[ kuh-lahy-uh-pee; for 1 also kal-ee-ohp ]
See synonyms for calliope on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Also called steam organ. a musical instrument consisting of a set of harsh-sounding steam whistles that are activated by a keyboard.

  2. (initial capital letter)Also Kalliope .Classical Mythology. the Muse of heroic poetry.

Origin of calliope

1
1855–60, Americanism;<Latin <Greek Kalliópē, equivalent to kalli- calli- + op- (stem of óps ) voice + feminine ending

Words Nearby calliope

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use calliope in a sentence

  • Immediately the little girl set up a yell that, 195 as Burd declared, could have scarcely been equaled by a steam calliope.

  • And off Bob went, whistling like a calliope and not even turning his head to look at the cabin.

  • The man with the steam calliope sat exhausted over his keyboard.

    Pagan Passions | Gordon Randall Garrett
  • John Robinson's circus boasted a steam calliope, which dispensed "biled music."

    Watch Yourself Go By | Al. G. Field
  • To calliope, the muse of epic poetry, Homer and Vergil prayed when they sang of war and heroes.

British Dictionary definitions for calliope (1 of 2)

calliope

/ (kəˈlaɪəpɪ) /


noun
  1. US and Canadian a steam organ

Origin of calliope

1
C19: after Calliope (literally: beautiful-voiced)

British Dictionary definitions for Calliope (2 of 2)

Calliope

/ (kəˈlaɪəpɪ) /


noun
  1. Greek myth the Muse of epic poetry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012