trombone

noun

trom·​bone träm-ˈbōn 

(ˌ)trəm-ˈbōn,

ˈträm-ˌbōn

: a brass instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube with two turns and having a movable slide or valves for varying the tone and a usual range one octave lower than that of the trumpet

trombonist

träm-ˈbō-nist 

(ˌ)trəm-ˈbō-

ˈträm-ˌbō-

noun

Illustration of trombone

Examples of trombone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dozen-and-a-half musicians joining Church on stage took away from that — the trombone bellows and flute trills distracted, making the song feel cartoonish at moments. —Justin Curto, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024

At the corner of St. Peter and Royal Streets, a tuba begins its rumbling and a trombone squeals; the instruments sparkle in the sunlight, glinting gold amid a gathering crowd. —Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 25 Nov. 2024

Mazzoli piles unstable harmonies on top of that fractured foundation; trombone glissandos add a demonic sneer. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

The police-procedural aspect enhances the grim nature of the stalk-and-slash murders, and the strange weapon choices (like the infamous trombone) really elevate the creep factor. —Meagan Navarro, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, augmentative of tromba trumpet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

trombone

noun

trom·​bone träm-ˈbōn 

(ˌ)trəm-

: a brass wind instrument with a section that can slide in and out to make different tones

trombonist

-ˈbō-nəst 

noun

Etymology

from Italian trombone, literally "large trumpet," from tromba "trumpet"