tuba

[too-buh, tyoo-]

noun

plural

tubas, tubae 

1. Music.

   1. a valved, brass wind instrument having a low range.

   2. an organ reed stop of large scale with tones of exceptional power.

   3. an ancient Roman trumpet.

2. Meteorology.,  funnel cloud.

tuba

/ ˈtjuːbə /

noun

1. a valved brass instrument of bass pitch, in which the bell points upwards and the mouthpiece projects at right angles. The tube is of conical bore and the mouthpiece cup-shaped

2. any other bass brass instrument such as the euphonium, helicon, etc

3. a powerful reed stop on an organ

4. a form of trumpet of ancient Rome

tuba

1. The lowest-pitched of the brass instruments. In orchestras, the tuba is usually held across the player's lap. In marching bands, the sousaphone is generally used as a low brass instrument because it was designed to be carried.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuba¹

1850–55; < Latin: trumpet; akin to tube

Word History and Origins

Origin of tuba¹

Latin

Example Sentences

He lowered his deep bass voice, but it was like trying to play softly on a tuba.

Read more on Literature

He played brass instruments: trumpet, trombone, and tuba, as well as the flute.

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For Bruckner, rising melodic scales, humongous fanfares with trumpets and horns and Wagner tubas galore and repeated patterns over and over by an unstoppable orchestra serve as injections of musical endorphins.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Trombones bleat, a tuba bellows, drums are the heart.

Read more on Salon

Banished to the orchestra’s back row, the tuba is rarely highlighted on its own.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal