trumpet

[ truhm-pit ]

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.

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

/ 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. See ear trumpet
   short for ear trumpet
8. blow one's own trumpet
   blow one's own trumpet to boast about oneself; brag

verb

1. to proclaim or sound loudly

trumpet

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

Derived Forms

• ˈtrumpet-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• trumpet·less adjective
• trumpet·like adjective
• un·trumpet·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trumpet¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of trumpet¹

C13: from Old French trompette a little trump ²

Example Sentences

Conch shells fashioned into trumpets were found at the Peruvian temple complex at Chavín de Huántar.

From Washington Post

Valles, a father of three, had been teaching one of his three grandchildren, 5-year-old Aliq Valles, to play the trumpet.

From Time

I started as a trumpet player, of all instruments, but it wasn’t cool and you could be cool on stage with a guitar and whatever.

From Ozy

Retelling this story isn’t to blow my own trumpet, it’s to make clear that you don’t have to be a marketer by training or commit a huge amount of time and resources to successfully market your startup.

From TechCrunch

The trumpet, of course, is not one of the customary sounds of springtime in the forest at Wolf Trap, the performing arts national park.

From Washington Post

At night jineteras stalk the promenade in search of tourists while a trumpet from a bench serenades the proceedings.

From The Daily Beast

A 4th grade Jessie James with a backpack and juice box, who practices trumpet and plays soccer.

From The Daily Beast

He had already run through all his personal funds, but luckily the request worked (a trumpet was also traded).

From The Daily Beast

But in more recent wars, where the emphasis has been on “credibility,” not victory, the trumpet has been uncertain, at best.

From The Daily Beast

My wife and I named our son Gideon after Tony had sounded Gideon's Trumpet.

From The Daily Beast

Roulard had played the trumpet in the regimental band in which Aristide had played the kettle drum.

From Project Gutenberg

How long shall I see men fleeing away, how long shall I hear the sound of the trumpet?

From Project Gutenberg

And I appointed watchmen over you, saying: Hearken ye to the sound of the trumpet.

From Project Gutenberg

Blow the trumpet, let all be made ready, yet there is none to go to the battle: for my wrath shall be upon all the people thereof.

From Project Gutenberg

Not till Felix comes to her in the chamber above the dining hall—there where that trumpet vine hangs—comes to say good-by to her.

From Project Gutenberg