celesta

[suh-les-tuh]

noun

a musical instrument consisting principally of a set of graduated steel plates struck with hammers that are activated by a keyboard.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for celesta

Historical Examples of celesta

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)

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012