| 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. |
| 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] |
| 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] |
| drum |
a percussion instrument shaped like a cylinder. A drum has a hollow body covered at one or both ends by a tight material. It is played by beating with sticks or the hands. [1/5 definitions] |
| English horn |
a woodwind instrument that looks like the oboe but is larger and lower in tone. |