xylophone

[ zahy-luh-fohn ]

noun

1. a musical instrument consisting of a graduated series of wooden bars, usually sounded by striking with small wooden hammers.

xylophone

/ ˈzaɪləˌfəʊn; ˌzaɪləˈfɒnɪk; zaɪˈlɒfənɪst /

noun

1. music a percussion instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars of graduated length. It is played with hard-headed hammers

Derived Forms

• xylophonist, noun
• xylophonic, adjective

Other Words From

• xy·lo·phon·ic [zahy-l, uh, -, fon, -ik], adjective
• xy·lo·phon·ist [zahy, -l, uh, -foh-nist, zahy-, lof, -, uh, -nist, zi-], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of xylophone¹

First recorded in 1865–70; xylo- + -phone

Word History and Origins

Origin of xylophone¹

C19: from xylo- + -phone

Example Sentences

McCullough told police: "When I was hitting her it was like someone badly playing the xylophone, it was willy-nilly."

From BBC

He holds small mallets in his “hands” to play a kind of xylophone called a marimba.

From NewsForKids.net

In an effort bristling with cleverness, four master’s degree graduates from the University of Minnesota College of Design built a hut from construction waste that doubled as a xylophone, incorporating a dismantled chain-link fence and sawed-off struts from a metal bed frame.

From New York Times

They distributed xylophone mallets to those waiting in line.

From New York Times

“Let’s work together to keep your account safe and protect you from fraud,” a recorded voice said, over a tinkly melody that sounded like a xylophone.

From New York Times