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

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

How to use calliope in a sentence

  • "We'd get along a lot better without one or two human calliopes—" he begins.

    Homeburg Memories | George Helgesen Fitch
  • The rest of the town wondered if it was a riot, or an earthquake, or both with three steam calliopes thrown in for good measure.

    David and the Phoenix | Edward Ormondroyd

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