trumpet

[ truhm-pit ]

noun

1. Music.
   1. any of a family of brass wind instruments with a powerful, penetrating tone, consisting of a tube commonly curved once or twice around on itself and having a cup-shaped mouthpiece at one end and a flaring bell at the other.
   2. an organ stop having a tone resembling that of a trumpet.
   3. a trumpeter.
2. something used as or resembling a trumpet, especially in sound.
3. a sound like that of a trumpet.
4. the loud shrill cry of an animal, especially an elephant.
5. ear trumpet.
6. trumpets, any of several pitcher plants of the southeastern U.S.

verb (used without object)

1. to blow a trumpet.
2. to emit a loud, trumpetlike cry, as an elephant.

verb (used with object)

1. to sound on a trumpet.
2. to utter with a sound like that of a trumpet.
3. to proclaim loudly or widely.

trumpet

/ ˈtrʌmpɪt /

noun

1. a valved brass instrument of brilliant tone consisting of a narrow tube of cylindrical bore ending in a flared bell, normally pitched in B flat. Range: two and a half octaves upwards from F sharp on the fourth line of the bass staff
2. any instrument consisting of a valveless tube ending in a bell, esp a straight instrument used for fanfares, signals, etc
3. a person who plays a trumpet in an orchestra
4. a loud sound such as that of a trumpet, esp when made by an animal

   the trumpet of the elephants

5. an eight-foot reed stop on an organ
6. something resembling a trumpet in shape, esp in having a flared bell
7. short for ear trumpet
8. blow one's own trumpet
   to boast about oneself; brag

verb

1. to proclaim or sound loudly

trumpet

1. A brass instrument with a brilliant tone, much used in classical music , as well as in military music and jazz .

Derived Forms

• ˈtrumpet-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• trumpet·less adjective
• trumpet·like adjective
• un·trumpet·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trumpet¹

1300–50; Middle English trumpette, trompette < French, equivalent to trompe trump ² + -ette -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of trumpet¹

C13: from Old French trompette a little trump ²

Example Sentences

His older brother Douglas was a trumpet player who introduced him to jazz.

From Los Angeles Times

Three times in the early 1990s, the cover of Time magazine trumpeted the Golden State’s demise: “California: The Endangered Dream.”

From Los Angeles Times

"His long career stretches back to the early days when he was a trumpet player, then a band leader, then a producer of many great records," Sir Paul wrote.

From BBC

Quincy immediately began experimenting with instruments at school, settling on the trumpet, and began playing in nightclubs.

From BBC

Nobody was picking up trumpets, violins or guitars for a while.

From Los Angeles Times