accordion

1 of 2

noun

ac·​cor·​di·​on ə-ˈkȯr-dē-ən 

: a portable keyboard wind instrument in which the wind is forced past free reeds by means of a hand-operated bellows

accordionist

ə-ˈkȯr-dē-ə-nist 

noun

Illustration of accordion

accordion

2 of 2

adjective

: folding or creased or hinged to fold like an accordion

an accordion pleat

an accordion door

Examples of accordion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The concert, the second saluting the album this year, featured Pogues members Spider Stacy on tin whistle, Jem Finer on banjo, and James Fearnley on accordion. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2024

The bag opens almost like an accordion and has a 14-inch laptop compartment and lots of room inside for base layers, toiletries, and more. —Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024

The closet’s existing accordion door had a single panel on each accordion. —Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024

There’s the very first version, which is the accordion, and then there’s the version which is solid for me. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from German Accordion (now Akkordeon), from Accord (now Akkord) "chord" (borrowed from French accord "chord, harmony, accord entry 2") + -ion (as in Melodion, an earlier keyboard instrument, from Melodie melody + -on, probably the Greek neuter noun ending)

Adjective

derivative of accordion entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1830, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accordion

• piano accordion

Kids Definition

accordion

1 of 2 noun

ac·​cor·​di·​on ə-ˈkȯrd-ē-ən 

: a musical instrument that has a keyboard and a bellows and that produces tones when air is forced past metal reeds

accordionist

-ē-ə-nəst 

noun

accordion

2 of 2 adjective

: creased to fold like an accordion

accordion doors