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celesta
[ suh-les-tuh ]
/ səˈlɛs tə /
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noun
a musical instrument consisting principally of a set of graduated steel plates struck with hammers that are activated by a keyboard.
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Origin of celesta
1895–1900; <French célesta, for céleste, literally, heavenly (see celestial); the -a for -e makes the name pseudo-Italian
Words nearby celesta
celeriac, celerity, celery, celery pine, celery salt, celesta, Celeste, celestial, Celestial City, Celestial Empire, celestial equator
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use celesta in a sentence
The instrument is called the Celesta Mustel, and costs 1,200 francs.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
British Dictionary definitions for celesta
celesta
celeste (sɪˈlɛst)
/ (sɪˈlɛstə) /
noun
music a keyboard percussion instrument consisting of a set of steel plates of graduated length that are struck with key-operated hammers. The tone is an ethereal tinkling sound. Range: four octaves upwards from middle C
Word Origin for celesta
C19: from French, Latinized variant of céleste heavenly
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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