cymbal

[ sim-buhl ]

/ ˈsɪm bəl /

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See synonyms for cymbal on Thesaurus.com

noun

a concave plate of brass or bronze that produces a sharp, ringing sound when struck: played either in pairs, by being struck together, or singly, by being struck with a drumstick or the like.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of cymbal

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cymbal, cymbala, from Old French cymbale, cymble , and from Medieval Latin cymbalum, from Latin, from Greek kýmbalon, derivative of kýmbos, kýmbē “hollow vessel, cup”

OTHER WORDS FROM cymbal

cym·bal·er, cym·bal·eer, cym·bal·ist, nouncym·bal·like, adjective

Words nearby cymbal

cymar, cyma recta, cyma reversa, cymation, cymatium, cymbal, cymbalo, cymbalom, Cymbeline, cymbidium, cymbiform

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cymbal in a sentence

And, thanks to well-handed treble reproduction, distorted guitars and crashing cymbals in lo-fi and punk songs sounded clear without requiring us to reach for the volume knob to protect our ears.
Best powered speakers of 2022|Sarah Jones|March 22, 2022|Popular-Science
You will hear the thump of kick drums more than might be expected from its 5-inch drivers, while high-end elements like cymbals stay crisp without sounding harsh.
The best speakers for music lovers of every genre|Markkus Rovito|November 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Among the oldest known musical instruments are noise-makers—cymbals and tambourines.
Your Brain Is Like Beethoven - Issue 107: The Edge|Jonathan Berger|October 27, 2021|Nautilus
Cymbals were crisp, as were the high-notes on the piano, and other high-end heavy sources were bright without being harsh.
Fluance Ai41 stereo speakers review: Pint-sized powerhouses|Mike Levine|October 20, 2021|Popular-Science

On the high end, cymbal hits are crisp and the soprano stylings of Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins sound great without being too sharp.
Sennheiser IE 300 review: A new old-school approach to audio|Roberto Baldwin|September 8, 2021|Popular-Science
His neck is always craned, ears pricked, waiting for cymbal splash of Art happening.
Geoff Dyer Takes on Andrei Tarkovsky’s Film ‘Stalker’ in ‘Zona’|Chris Wallace|February 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Heart and conscious were alike cultivated—not alone the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal.
Historic Papers on the Causes of the Civil War|Mrs. Eugenia Dunlap Potts
Conch and cymbal, horn and trumpet spake forth music soft and sweet, In Virata's royal palace, in the peopled mart and street!
Maha-bharata|Anonymous
That would certainly account for your bra—— Then, am I a cymbal too, Hilda?
Mr Punch's Pocket Ibsen - A Collection of Some of the Master's Best Known Dramas|F. Anstey
Duchess in perspective though you be, you will own some day that these are but as a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.
Jasper Lyle|Harriet Ward
That power is love, without which though we have all else we are but as "sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal."
Sex=The Unknown Quantity|Ali Nomad

British Dictionary definitions for cymbal

cymbal

/ (ˈsɪmbəl) /

noun

a percussion instrument of indefinite pitch consisting of a thin circular piece of brass, which vibrates when clashed together with another cymbal or struck with a stick

Derived forms of cymbal

cymbaler, cymbaleer or cymbalist, nouncymbal-like, adjective

Word Origin for cymbal

Old English cymbala, from Medieval Latin, from Latin cymbalum, from Greek kumbalon, from kumbē something hollow

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

Cultural definitions for cymbal

cymbal

A large, round metal plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals can be crashed together in pairs or struck singly with a drumstick, and they are used in dance bands, jazz bands, and orchestras.

cymbal

Origin of cymbal

OTHER WORDS FROM cymbal

Words nearby cymbal

Words related to cymbal

How to use cymbal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cymbal

Derived forms of cymbal

Word Origin for cymbal

Cultural definitions for cymbal