trumpet

1 of 2

noun

trum·​pet ˈtrəm-pət How to pronounce trumpet (audio)
1
a
: a wind instrument consisting of a conical or cylindrical usually metal tube, a cup-shaped mouthpiece, and a flared bell
specifically : a valved brass instrument having a cylindrical tube with two turns and a usual range from F sharp below middle C upward for 2¹/₂ octaves
b
: a musical instrument (such as a cornet) resembling a trumpet
2
: a trumpet player
3
: something that resembles a trumpet or its tonal quality: such as
a
: a funnel-shaped instrument (such as a megaphone) for collecting, directing, or intensifying sound
b(1)
: a stentorian voice
(2)
: a penetrating cry (as of an elephant)
trumpetlike adjective

Illustration of trumpet

Illustration of trumpet
  • trumpet 1a

trumpet

2 of 2

verb

trumpeted; trumpeting; trumpets

intransitive verb

1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound suggestive of that of a trumpet

transitive verb

: to sound or proclaim on or as if on a trumpet
trumpet the news

Examples of trumpet in a Sentence

Noun the trumpet of a flower Verb He likes to trumpet his own achievements. The law was trumpeted as a solution to everything.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In 1943, his father uprooted the family to move to Bremerton, Wash., and then to Seattle, where Quincy Jr. attended Garfield High School and ignited his passion for music by studying composition and learning to play the trumpet. Jennifer Frederick, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024 Nobody was picking up trumpets, violins or guitars for a while. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
Multiple sheriffs aligned with Mack, including Chris Schmaling of Racine County, Wisconsin, and Calvin Hayden of Johnson County, Kansas, have trumpeted their ongoing election fraud investigations. Rich Schapiro, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2024 Likewise, Turning Point’s political wing once trumpeted its plans to raise more than $100 million for a get-out-the-vote operation that would include Arizona among other presidential swing states. Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 30 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for trumpet 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English trompette, from Anglo-French, from trumpe trump

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trumpet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near trumpet

Cite this Entry

“Trumpet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trumpet. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

trumpet

1 of 2 noun
trum·​pet ˈtrəm-pət How to pronounce trumpet (audio)
1
: a wind instrument consisting of a long cylindrical metal tube commonly once or twice curved and ending in a bell
2
: something shaped like a trumpet
3
: a sound like that of a trumpet

trumpet

2 of 2 verb
1
: to blow a trumpet
2
: to make a sound like that of a trumpet

More from Merriam-Webster on trumpet

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