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 band members are Dave McMurray (sax), Luis Resto (keyboards), Vincent Chandler (trombone), Wayne Gerard (guitar), John Douglas (trumpet), Jeff Canaday (drums), Mahindi Masai (percussion), and Steffanie Christi’an (vocals). —Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2024

Born in New York on Feb. 25, 1933, Robert Ellison graduated from the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and started out in show business as a trombone player in the Catskills. —Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 May 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"