xy·lo·phone
xylophone
- pronunciation:
- zaI
l
fon
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a percussion instrument having a series of graduated metal or wooden bars that sound the notes of the chromatic scale when struck with small wooden mallets.
|
| related words: |
chime |
| derivation: |
xylophonist (n.) |
Xylophone is made up of the Greek words
xylon, which means "wood," and
phone, which means sound."