cembalo

[ chem-buh-loh ]

noun

, Music.

, plural cem·ba·li [chem, -b, uh, -lee], cem·ba·los.

1. harpsichord.

cembalo

/ ˈtʃɛmbələʊ /

noun

1. another word for harpsichord

Derived Forms

• ˈcembalist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cembalo¹

1795–1805; < Italian ( clavi ) cembalo < Latin cymbalum cymbal

Word History and Origins

Origin of cembalo¹

C19: shortened from clavicembalo

Example Sentences

Each singer made his own, which the maestro al cembalo accompanied with a few simple chords.

From Project Gutenberg

The essential distinction between the cembalo and the spinet was in the manner of tone production.

From Project Gutenberg

During the seventeenth century, sonatas were written for various instruments, with a figured bass for the cembalo.

From Project Gutenberg

My view of Cristofori's invention allows me to think that the Estense "piano e forte" may have been a hammer cembalo, a very imperfect one, of course.

From Project Gutenberg

In the cembalo there was a wooden jack resting upon the end of the keys, and upon this jack a little plectrum made of raven's quill, which had to be frequently renewed.

From Project Gutenberg