| accordion |
a musical instrument with a keyboard that is small enough to carry. An accordion is played by pressing the keys and squeezing the bellows to force air through metal reeds. |
| alto |
a musical instrument having the second highest range in its family of instruments. [1/4 definitions] |
| anemometer |
an instrument that measures the speed and force of the wind. |
| audition |
An audition is a short performance that someone gives to just a few people to show how well they can act, dance, sing, or play an instrument. When someone does an audition, they hope that the people watching will choose them to be in their play, movie, or something like that. Sometimes people have to give an audition in order to be part of a musical group or to get into a special school. For example, if they want to get into a school of music or dance, they might have to give an audition. |
| bagpipe |
a wind instrument made of a leather bag and pipes. It is played by blowing air into the bag and squeezing the bag to force air through pipes that produce musical tones. |
| balance |
an instrument for weighing objects that has two flat pans hanging from or resting on a bar; scales. [1/6 definitions] |
| banjo |
a musical instrument with a circular body, a long neck, and four or five strings that are plucked or strummed. |
| barometer |
an instrument that measures the pressure of the atmosphere and is used to predict the weather. |
| bass1 |
the largest musical instrument with strings in the orchestra. It is played with a bow and produces low, deep tones. [1/3 definitions] |
| bassoon |
a large woodwind instrument. The bassoon has a long wooden body attached to a curved, metal tube with a mouthpiece at its end. |
| bell |
the opening of a brass or wind instrument where the sound comes out. [1/2 definitions] |
| bellows |
(used with a singular or plural verb) a bag that can be expanded to draw air in and squeezed to force air out. Bellows are used to blow air on a fire or produce sound on a musical instrument. |
| brass |
(often plural) a wind instrument made of brass. [1/2 definitions] |
| bugle1 |
A bugle is a simple instrument that you blow through to make sounds. A bugle is made of a metal called brass. A bugle is similar to a trumpet, but you only use your mouth and not your fingers to make sounds with it. A bugle is sometimes used to wake up soldiers in the morning. |
| cello |
a large musical instrument with four strings. The cello is in the violin family but has a deeper tone than the violin. |
| clarinet |
a woodwind instrument with a reed mouthpiece attached to a long tube with finger holes and keys along its length. |
| compass |
an instrument for showing direction. A typical compass has a moving magnetic needle that points north. [2 definitions] |
| cornet |
a brass wind instrument that is like a trumpet but smaller. |
| cymbal |
a percussion instrument that is round and made of metal. Cymbals are played by striking a pair of them together or hitting one with a drumstick or brushes. |
| double bass |
the largest instrument of the violin family and that which has the deepest tone. The double bass is often called simply "the bass." |
| drone2 |
a low, steady hum, as of a bee or a musical instrument such as a bagpipe. [1/3 definitions] |