contrabasso

[ kon-truh-bas-oh, -bah-soh; Italian kawn-trah-bahs-saw ]

noun

, plural con·tra·bas·sos, con·tra·bas·si [kon-tr, uh, -, bas, -ee, -, bah, -see, kawn-t, r, ah-, bahs, -see],

1. contrabass.

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrabasso¹

< Italian contrabasso, equivalent to contra- contra- ²( def ) + basso bass ¹

Example Sentences

Upon the former “at all times” he relies for Viola, Violoncello, and Contrabasso, and “generally” for the second Violins.

From Project Gutenberg

He is represented, as is well known, seated in the group of musicians in the centre, and playing the contrabasso.

From Project Gutenberg

"The thing which my brother can have from me is 1, a Septett per il Violino, Viola, Violoncello, Contrabasso, Clarinetto, Cornto, Fagotto, tutti obligati; for I can not write anything that is not obligato, having come into the world with obligato accompaniment."

From Project Gutenberg