celesta

American  

[suh-les-tuh] / səˈlɛs tə /

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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celesta British  

/ sɪˈlɛst, sɪˈlɛstə /

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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Etymology

Origin of celesta

1895–1900; < French célesta, for céleste, literally, heavenly ( see celestial); the -a for -e makes the name pseudo-Italian

Example Sentences

A pair of harps, placed antiphonally in boxes at opposite sides of the stage, plus a theorbo, offer an otherworldly descant, as do the sounds of the celesta and chimes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Bell's work leaned on his background in classical music, and he introduced instruments like the celesta, sitar, oboe, bassoon, cor anglais and bells into his rococo arrangements.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2022

At one point a perfectly luminous chord, spread through the Houston Chamber Choir’s tenors and basses, was cut off by a bleak, sepulchral cluster in the piano and celesta.

From New York Times • Feb. 21, 2022

The stops are the knobs on either side — hand-carved from dark pau ferro wood — that allow the organist to replicate different instruments: oboe, flute, trumpet, celesta, etc.

From Washington Post • Feb. 7, 2022

It is pianissimo, scored for very high tremolo violins, celesta bells, and harp; and I should very much like to know exactly what it means in its present position in the play.

From Shakespeare and Music by Wilson, Christopher