noun
xylophone
ZY-luh-fohn/ˈzaɪləfəʊn/
A percussion instrument with tuned wooden bars struck by mallets.
She strikes the xylophone's wooden bars with a pair of mallets.
Etymology
“Wood” and “sound” describe music produced by striking wooden bars with hammers. The early English rendering “music-sticks” captures the same concrete image.
In context
That might just be the xylophone. This percussion instrument is made up of wooden bars of different lengths arranged side by side. When you strike these bars with mallets, they produce a delightful sound.
More examples
- The xylophone adds bright notes to the orchestra's melody.
- He practices a simple tune on the xylophone.
- Two xylophones stand beside the drums in the music room.
Forms
xylophone · xylophones
xylophonist noun — A musician who plays the xylophone.
Similar words
- marimba
- Has wooden bars but typically produces a warmer, deeper sound.
- glockenspiel
- Uses metal bars rather than wood, producing bell-like tones.