harmonium

American  

[hahr-moh-nee-uhm] / hɑrˈmoʊ ni əm /

noun

1. an organlike keyboard instrument with small metal reeds and a pair of bellows operated by the player's feet.

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harmonium British  

/ hɑːˈməʊnɪəm /

noun

1. a musical keyboard instrument of the reed organ family, in which air from pedal-operated bellows causes the reeds to vibrate

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Etymology

Origin of harmonium

1840–50; Latinization of Greek harmónion, neuter of harmónios harmonious

Example Sentences

A big presence on stage, he was always surrounded by fellow musicians on Indian instruments like the harmonium and the three-stringed sarangi, and a jamboree of vocalists providing the drone of the tanpura.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2024

As he searched through his papers, his apprentice, Arash Forogh, who was playing backup harmonium, picked up the song’s thread and completed the verse.

From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2023

He showed Reuters video clips of him playing the harmonium and rubab, a string instrument, some of which were on social media.

From Reuters • Nov. 9, 2023

He did so on a recent Sunday at the Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha in Fresno, California, seated cross-legged on a dais in the temple’s prayer hall playing a harmonium.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2023

They sit in circles on the floor, singing songs by Nazrul and Tagore, passing a thick yellow clothbound book of lyrics among them as Dilip Nandi plays the harmonium.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri