theorbo

American  

[thee-awr-boh] / θiˈɔr boʊ /

noun

plural

theorbos

1. an obsolete bass lute with two sets of strings attached to separate peg boxes, one above the other, on the neck.

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theorbo British  

/ θɪˈɔːbəʊ /

noun

1. music an obsolete form of the lute, having two necks, one above the other, the second neck carrying a set of unstopped sympathetic bass strings

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Other Word Forms

• theorbist noun

Etymology

Origin of theorbo

1595–1605; < Italian teorba, variant of tiorba, special use of Venetian tiorba, variant of tuorba traveling bag ≪ Turkish torba bag; so called from the bag it was carried in

Example Sentences

A pair of harps, placed antiphonally in boxes at opposite sides of the stage, plus a theorbo, offer an otherworldly descant, as do the sounds of the celesta and chimes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

This will not be Monteverdi as we have heard him; there will be nary a period instrument in sight, neither a harpsichord nor a sackbut, a theorbo nor a cornett.

From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2023

A harpsichord, a theorbo and a viola da gamba sound alongside an upright piano and an electric organ.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023

But his new concerto makes another leap by turning the spotlight on the theorbo as the protagonist, here accompanied by a chamber orchestra of strings and harpsichord.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2017

Grave, but in ecstasy, they play on the harp or the theorbo, on the Viol d'Amore or the rebeck, singing the eternal glory of the most Holy Mother.

From The Cathedral by Huysmans, J.-K. (Joris-Karl)