theorbo

American  

[thee-awr-boh] / θiˈɔr boʊ /

noun

theorbos plural

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

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• theorbist
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• theorbos
  plural

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

Seattle Baroque Orchestra premieres “Strange Seasons” concerto by local composer Aaron Grad, featuring his hand-built, one-of-a-kind electric theorbo.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2017

Lute or theorbo, viola or viol di gamba, treble or bass, came alike to his hand and ear.

From London Pride Or When the World Was Younger by Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth)