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

Trombone Shorty kicked things off with a wailing trombone line before Daigle began singing the patriotic standard. —Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 9 Feb. 2025

But he’s always got his eye out for young standouts, like Riley Baker on trombone and tuba. —Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025

But which would-be contenders were instead greeted with sad trombones? —Kyle Buchanan, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

Salsa itself, which bears Cuban roots but was further developed by Puerto Ricans in New York City, is also in part sustained by dancers who revel in the trombones and bongos that nourish the popular tunes. —Solcyré Burga, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025

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"