ophicleide
[ of-i-klahyd ]
/ ˈɒf ɪˌklaɪd /
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noun
a musical wind instrument, a development of the old wooden serpent, consisting of a conical metal tube bent double.
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Origin of ophicleide
1825–35; <French ophicléide<Greek óphi(s) serpent + kleid- (stem of kleís) key (akin to Latin clavis;see clavicle)
OTHER WORDS FROM ophicleide
oph·i·clei·de·an, adjectiveWords nearby ophicleide
operose, opgefok, Ophelia, Opheltes, ophiasis, ophicleide, ophidian, ophidiid, ophiolatry, ophiolite, ophiolite suite
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for ophicleide
ophicleide
/ (ˈɒfɪˌklaɪd) /
noun
music an obsolete keyed wind instrument of bass pitch
Word Origin for ophicleide
C19: from French ophiclēide, from Greek ophis snake + kleis key
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