theremin

American  

[ther-uh-min] / ˈθɛr ə mɪn /

noun

1. a musical instrument with electronic tone generation, the pitch and tone volume being controlled by the distance between the player's hands and two metal rods serving as antennas.

---

theremin British  

/ ˈθɛrəmɪn /

noun

1. an electronic musical instrument, played by moving the hands through electromagnetic fields created by two metal rods

---

Other Word Forms

• thereminist noun

Etymology

Origin of theremin

First recorded in 1925–30; named after Leo Theremin (1896–1993), Russian inventor

Example Sentences

There was a woodwind virtuoso, Pedro Eustache, making wild and beautiful sounds in an isolated booth with his arsenal of flutes — and out on the stage there was a real, live theremin.

From Los Angeles Times

Let’s think about the terrifying theremin line that snakes through “Good Vibrations” like it’s tugging a flying saucer down onto Dockweiler Beach.

From Los Angeles Times

When your theremin gets staticky, someone at Equinox probably can fix it.

From Seattle Times

She has several musical saws of different makes, lengths, widths and tapering and also owns a theremin, an electronic musical instrument.

From Seattle Times

They chatted about theremins for a bit and then more broadly about music.

From Washington Post