harmonica

noun

har·​mon·​i·​ca här-ˈmä-ni-kə 

1

: glass harmonica

2

: a small rectangular wind instrument with free reeds recessed in air slots from which tones are sounded by exhaling and inhaling

harmonicist

här-ˈmä-nə-sist 

noun

Examples of harmonica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the film, Chalamet performs 40 songs, some are guitar or harmonica or radio fragments, including 26 whole songs. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024

The dark fantasy drama Jack Frost (1998) tells the story of a musician father (Michael Keaton) who was killed in a car crash and can only be brought back to life by a magical harmonica. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

And thanks to Chalamet grabbing a guitar and harmonica, the Bob Dylan movie is positively electric chronicling the enigmatic singer's early years in the 1960s. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

Style: Rail-thin in sunglasses, black suit and unruly pompadour; Dylan accouterments include acoustic guitar, harmonica and ever-present cigarette. —Hugh Hart, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian armonica, feminine of armonico harmonious

First Known Use

1762, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing harmonica

• glass harmonica

Kids Definition

harmonica

noun

har·​mon·​i·​ca här-ˈmän-i-kə 

: a small musical instrument that is held in the hand and played by the mouth and that produces a sound through metal reeds which vibrate as air is blown or drawn past them