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

Out-of-towners crowd the sidewalk to listen to a brass band, the trombones, trumpets and saxophone blaring over the march of the tuba and percussion. —Dakin Andone, CNN, 7 Feb. 2025

Primarily a trombone player, the musician is known for his fusion of various genres, including rock, pop, jazz, funk and hip-hop. —Lori A Bashian Fox News, Fox News, 6 Feb. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for trombone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

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"