Advertisement

Advertisement

double bass

[ beys ]

noun

  1. the largest instrument of the violin family, having three or, usually, four strings, rested vertically on the floor when played.


double bass

/ beɪs /

noun

  1. Also called (US)bass viol a stringed instrument, the largest and lowest member of the violin family. Range: almost three octaves upwards from E in the space between the fourth and fifth leger lines below the bass staff. It is normally bowed in classical music, but it is very common in a jazz or dance band, where it is practically always played pizzicato Informal namebass fiddle
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adjective

  1. of or relating to an instrument whose pitch lies below that regarded as the bass; contrabass
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

double bass

  1. Another name for the bass viol .


Discover More

Other Words From

  • double bassist noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of double bass1

First recorded in 1720–30
Discover More

Example Sentences

If a stellar-mass black hole is a violin, an IMBH is a double bass.

Mr. Betts, of London, had one for which he refused the enormous sum of £500, and Dragonetti also refused £800 for a double bass.

In his younger days he also played the double-bass and played at the provincial Musical Festivals of 1871 and 1874.

And she thinks she is serious all the time with her great boots and her great double-bass and her French horns.

Edith leaned over the terrace wall, and took the double-bass bow out of the tall clump of sweet peas.

Don't mind the scales and the double-bass, dear Dr. Cardew; it is only Mrs. Arbuthnot, of whom you have heard.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


double-barrelleddouble bassoon