saxophone

[ sak-suh-fohn ]

noun

1. a musical wind instrument consisting of a conical, usually brass tube with keys or valves and a mouthpiece with one reed.

saxophone

/ ˈsæksəˌfəʊn; sækˈsɒfənɪst; ˌsæksəˈfɒnɪk /

noun

1. a keyed wind instrument of mellow tone colour, used mainly in jazz and dance music. It is made in various sizes, has a conical bore, and a single reed Often shortened tosax

saxophone

1. A wind instrument classified as a woodwind because it is played with a reed , although it is usually made of metal. Saxophones appear mainly in jazz , dance, and military bands. They are made in several ranges, from soprano to bass .

Derived Forms

• saxophonist, noun
• saxophonic, adjective

Other Words From

• sax·o·phon·ic [sak-s, uh, -, fon, -ik], adjective
• saxo·phonist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of saxophone¹

1850–55; Sax ( saxhorn ) + -o- + -phone

Word History and Origins

Origin of saxophone¹

C19: named after Adolphe Sax (1814–94), Belgian musical-instrument maker, who invented it (1846)

Example Sentences

There’s the sound of explosions, barking dogs and a storm of violins, saxophone and percussion.

From Washington Post

Ellis joined the horn section on alto saxophone before switching to the larger, deeper-toned tenor saxophone, his preferred instrument.

From Washington Post

Survivor Hal Singer became a saxophone virtuoso and a world-renowned musician.

From Time

Starr was a music teacher and songwriter who played flute, bass, saxophone and an electronic wind synthesizer.

From Washington Post

Then Monk said to both of them, 'You play saxophone, right?'

From The Daily Beast

There was never any one criterion for how every trombone or tenor saxophone or singer should sound.

From The Daily Beast

Paul Winter played the saxophone and Melissa Leo, the actress, read texts written by Petit himself.

From The Daily Beast

Charles played saxophone, and Cyril, the youngest, played congas and sang like no tomorrow.

From The Daily Beast

But the best was that they had to call and tell me to come in and redo the butt saxophone.

From The Daily Beast

But Mr. Hingman had long before this subsided into his chair and was emitting sounds like those from a saxophone.

From Project Gutenberg

And we're going to get one of those things—a saxophone or whatever you call it—to take our latitude and longitude with!

From Project Gutenberg

The Policeman took the saxophone, and the German the slide trombone.

From Project Gutenberg

When all poor Ernest seemed to want these days was to play the saxophone.

From Project Gutenberg

It was tougher for me than learning to play a saxophone is for a boy of ten.

From Project Gutenberg