pitch pipe

noun

: a small reed pipe or flue pipe producing one or more tones to establish the pitch in singing or in tuning an instrument

Examples of pitch pipe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For most of the performance, my mother conducts us from a music stand, pitch pipe in hand. —Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

Then the woman pulls out a pitch pipe and blows a note. —Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2022

One member blew a single note on a pitch pipe, and with that one note, the chorus launched into four-part harmony singing Christmas classics. —Carson Gerber, The Seattle Times, 24 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pitch pipe

noun

: a small pipe blown to establish the pitch in singing or in tuning an instrument