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celesta

[suh-les-tuh]
noun
  1. 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for celesta

Historical Examples

  • The instrument is called the Celesta Mustel, and costs 1,200 francs.

    The Life &amp; Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky

    Modeste Tchaikovsky

British Dictionary definitions for celesta

celesta

celeste (sɪˈlɛst)

noun
  1. 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
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Word Origin

C19: from French, Latinized variant of céleste heavenly
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