contrabass

[ kon-truh-beys ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

of, relating to, or characteristic of such instruments:
a contrabass trombone.

contrabass

/ ˌkɒntrəˈbeɪs; -ˈbæs-; ˌkɒntrəˈbeɪsɪst /

a member of any of various families of musical instruments that is lower in pitch than the bass
See double bass
another name for double bass

From Italian, dating back to 1590–1600; contrabasso

As a contrabass to the rhythm of the blacksmiths hammer, the booming murmur of the sea trembled across the summer air.

Down the shaded street the metallic rhythm of the anvil was breaking through the contrabass of the surf.

The bombardon in B flat or C, an octave lower than the euphonium, corresponds to the contrabass tuba in the orchestra.

The tone was pleasant and full, but not powerful enough for the contrabass register in a military band.

Darwin had the contrabass played to an audience of sprouting garden-beans, in order to observe the effect of music on vegetation.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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