trumpet

American  

[truhm-pit] / ˈtrʌm pɪt /

noun

1. Music.

   1. any of a family of brass wind instruments with a powerful, penetrating tone, consisting of a tube commonly curved once or twice around on itself and having a cup-shaped mouthpiece at one end and a flaring bell at the other.

   2. an organ stop having a tone resembling that of a trumpet.

   3. a trumpeter.

2. something used as or resembling a trumpet, especially in sound.

3. a sound like that of a trumpet.

4. the loud shrill cry of an animal, especially an elephant.

5. ear trumpet.

6. trumpets, any of several pitcher plants of the southeastern U.S.

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verb (used without object)

1. to blow a trumpet.

2. to emit a loud, trumpetlike cry, as an elephant.

verb (used with object)

1. to sound on a trumpet.

2. to utter with a sound like that of a trumpet.

3. to proclaim loudly or widely.

trumpet British  

/ ˈtrʌmpɪt /

noun

1. a valved brass instrument of brilliant tone consisting of a narrow tube of cylindrical bore ending in a flared bell, normally pitched in B flat. Range: two and a half octaves upwards from F sharp on the fourth line of the bass staff

2. any instrument consisting of a valveless tube ending in a bell, esp a straight instrument used for fanfares, signals, etc

3. a person who plays a trumpet in an orchestra

4. a loud sound such as that of a trumpet, esp when made by an animal

   the trumpet of the elephants

5. an eight-foot reed stop on an organ

6. something resembling a trumpet in shape, esp in having a flared bell

7. short for ear trumpet

8. to boast about oneself; brag

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verb

1. to proclaim or sound loudly

trumpet Cultural  

1. A brass instrument with a brilliant tone, much used in classical music, as well as in military music and jazz.

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Other Word Forms

• trumpet-like adjective
• trumpetless adjective
• trumpetlike adjective
• untrumpeted adjective

Etymology

Origin of trumpet

1300–50; Middle English trumpette, trompette < French, equivalent to trompe trump ² + -ette -et

Example Sentences

Born in San Francisco in 1947, Mr. Weir tried but failed to master the piano and trumpet before taking up the guitar at age 13.

From The Wall Street Journal

At its heart was the most complete battle trumpet, or carnyx, ever found in Europe - and the first-ever boar's head flag standard to be found in Britain.

From BBC

The score has a military subtext—trumpets and drums are always interrupting happy scenes, and an ominous horn theme plays a major role.

From The Wall Street Journal

But I do believe — cue the trumpets and cherubs — there is nothing beyond the power of voters to fix.

From Los Angeles Times

Firms that had banner years would lay siege to hotel ballrooms, trumpeting their good fortune with rip-roaring excesses more suited to an Indian wedding.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• advertise
• proclaim
• publish
• tout