saxophone

American  

[sak-suh-fohn] / ˈsæk səˌfoʊn /

noun

1. a musical wind instrument consisting of a conical, usually brass tube with keys or valves and a mouthpiece with one reed.

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saxophone British  

/ ˈsæksəˌfəʊn, sækˈsɒfənɪst, ˌsæksəˈfɒnɪk /

noun

1. Often shortened to: sax.  a keyed wind instrument of mellow tone colour, used mainly in jazz and dance music. It is made in various sizes, has a conical bore, and a single reed

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saxophone Cultural  

1. A wind instrument classified as a woodwind because it is played with a reed, although it is usually made of metal. Saxophones appear mainly in jazz, dance, and military bands. They are made in several ranges, from soprano to bass.

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Other Word Forms

• saxophonic
  adjective
• saxophonist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of saxophone

1850–55; Sax ( see saxhorn) + -o- + -phone

Explanation

A saxophone is a brass instrument that you play by blowing into a mouthpiece and pressing keys to form musical notes. John Coltrane and Charlie Parker (and Lisa Simpson :) were famous saxophone players. Saxophones are similar to instruments like clarinets, because both use a reed mouthpiece and are considered woodwinds. The saxophone, however, also qualifies as a brass instrument, like the trumpet and the tuba, since it's made out of brass and makes sound through vibrations inside the instrument's body. The word saxophone comes from Antoine Joseph Sax, the Belgian inventor of the saxophone. Sax's father, also named Sax, invented the less successful saxhorn.

Example Sentences

Hemphill later joined forces again with Lake in the World Saxophone Quartet, which played open-minded, poly-genre spaces like the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2021

Saxophone and violin add a kind of rootsy Balkan energy to classic British post-punk, with a dynamo rhythm section and ranting lyrics about Kendall Jenner.

From The Guardian • Dec. 28, 2018

In fact, the teenager was so confident he'd be eliminated that he didn't start practising the piece he'll perform on Sunday - Paul Creston's Saxophone Concerto - until his place was secured.

From BBC • May 11, 2018

The Washington Saxophone Quartet celebrates its 40th anniversary this season.

From Washington Post • Apr. 21, 2017

Saxophone, sak′sō-fōn, n. a brass wind-instrument, with about twenty finger-keys, like the clarinet.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various