calliope
noun
a musical instrument consisting of a set of harsh-sounding steam whistles that are activated by a keyboard.
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calliope
American
[kuh-lahy-uh-pee, kal-ee-ohp]
/ kəˈlaɪ ə pi, ˈkæl iˌoʊp /
noun
-
Also called steam organ. a musical instrument consisting of a set of harsh-sounding steam whistles that are activated by a keyboard.
-
(initial capital letter) Also Kalliope the Muse of heroic poetry.
Calliope
1
British
/ kəˈlaɪəpɪ /
noun
calliope
2
British
/ kəˈlaɪəpɪ /
noun
Etymology
Origin of calliope
1855–60, < Latin < Greek Kalliópē, equivalent to kalli- calli- + op- (stem of óps ) voice + -ē feminine ending
Explanation
A calliope is an old-fashioned, steam powered musical instrument. While a calliope is played using a piano keyboard, the sound is so loud it can often be heard from miles away. During the Industrial Revolution, steam was used to power all sorts of things, from trains to riverboats to circus carousels. Calliopes were invented as a perfect accompaniment to this "age of steam." Calliopes were known for their loud, harsh tones that sound very similar to train whistles. Even though no one would argue that a calliope sounds lovely, the name comes from the beautiful-voiced Greek Muse Kalliope.
Vocabulary lists containing calliope
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Her six-year-old feet skimming swiftly over battered gray grass, twinkly, too-bright colored lights, shards of mirror, the wild music of a steam calliope.
From The Verge ● Feb. 8, 2019
It was performed exclusively by kids -- little kids, bigger kids, teenagers – but was a full-on big top experience, with sawdust and a calliope, acrobats and aerialists.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2018
“A 10-note calliope? I was like, ‘Ehh, that doesn’t sound like enough notes.’”
From New York Times ● Feb. 21, 2018
Park inhabitants include bison, weighing in at as much as 2,000 pounds, and calliope hummingbirds, as light as two paper clips.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 15, 2016
It was the steam calliope on the Case Special, flinging a tune to the four winds.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
She also was known for portraying dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives.”
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2023
In addition to originating the voice of Harley Quinn, Sorkin was known for portraying dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2023
He handed her an issue of Gaiman’s epic “The Sandman” that features the muse Calliope.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 24, 2022
Dream and Calliope used to be married and had a son, Orpheus, whose tragic death inspired another myth on top of precipitating their breakup.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2022
If he were set free from his pole, I wonder, would he walk on water like Calliope did?
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
