tuba

American  

[too-buh, tyoo-] / ˈtu bə, ˈtju- /

noun

tubas, plural tubae plural

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.

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tuba British  

/ 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

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tuba Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tubae
  plural
• tubas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tuba

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

Explanation

A tuba is a large brass instrument that you play by blowing into its mouthpiece. In a marching band, the tuba player plays the lowest, deepest notes (and also has to lug around her tuba). The tuba is the biggest, and among the newest, of all the brass instruments. Tuba players create the low-pitched sound by making a kind of "buzz" with their breath against the mouthpiece and pressing the tuba's valves to form notes. In an orchestra, a tuba player holds the instrument on her lap, while a tuba player in a marching band would use a sousaphone tuba, or helicon, a lighter tuba that can be worn across a shoulder.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tuba tubas

On a sidewalk in a middle-class neighborhood of Colima city, the Bejarano family is selling tuba, a refreshing fermented drink made from the fresh, sweet sap of the coconut palm tree.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Their storefront may be the only place in Los Angeles County that serves tuba, which they import frozen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

“Two trumpets and a tuba, accompanied by thousands of snare drums.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

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

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2025

Ability to play tuba a plus for female ensemble.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Take my word for it: I own 10 tubas and have had more fun playing them than should be legal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025

In L.A. you’re premiering “Not Necessarily in Arms Reach,” a piece you wrote for two tubas.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2024

The Inglewood marching band — about 40 members strong — roared alongside their signal-caller, blasting music with their tubas and trumpets in victory as the Sentinels celebrated their 34-29 win Friday night.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2024

It has one delectable moment in which the members of the school marching band raise their saxophones and tubas high.

From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2024

The Ring also called for the invention of subsequently dubbed 'Wagner tubas, a hybrid that combined elements of the French horn, trombone and euphonium.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall