accordion

[ uh-kawr-dee-uhn ]
See synonyms for accordion on Thesaurus.com
nounMusic.
  1. Also called piano accordion. a portable wind instrument having a large bellows for forcing air through small metal reeds, a keyboard for the right hand, and buttons for sounding single bass notes or chords for the left hand.

  2. a similar instrument having single-note buttons instead of a keyboard.

adjective
  1. having a fold or folds like the bellows of an accordion: accordion roof; accordion panel.

verb (used without object)
  1. (of a door, roof, or other covering) to open by folding back or pressing together in the manner of an accordion: The roof of the car accordions to let in sunlight and fresh air.

  2. to fold, crush together, or collapse in the manner of an accordion.

verb (used with object)
  1. to demolish by crushing together lengthwise: The impact accordioned the car beneath the truck.

Origin of accordion

1
1831; <German, now spelling Akkordion, Akkordeon name under which the instrument was patented in Vienna in 1829; probably <French accord(er) or Italian accord(are) to harmonize (see accord) + French -ion-ion, as in German Orchestrionorchestrion

Words Nearby accordion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use accordion in a sentence

  • A sailor, who had brought an accordion with him, was playing "While the North Sea roars," and other popular airs.

    Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange Kielland
  • The proprietor, being angry, rescued the accordion roughly; whereupon Anne pouted and cast appealing glances on her friends.

    Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward White
  • However, Muriel in her salmon-coloured, accordion-pleated frock bowled Michael off his superior pedestal.

    Sinister Street, vol. 1 | Compton Mackenzie
  • It seemed to have been pleated and shoved together like an accordion.

    Hunters Out of Space | Joseph Everidge Kelleam
  • Poor Mr. Nicholson had bought an accordion, which he amused himself in the long evenings with playing.

British Dictionary definitions for accordion

accordion

/ (əˈkɔːdɪən) /


noun
  1. a portable box-shaped instrument of the reed organ family, consisting of metallic reeds that are made to vibrate by air from a set of bellows controlled by the player's hands. Notes are produced by means of studlike keys

  2. short for piano accordion

Origin of accordion

1
C19: from German Akkordion, from Akkord harmony, chord

Derived forms of accordion

  • accordionist, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012