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. 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.

Other Word Forms

• trumpet-like adjective
• trumpetless adjective
• trumpetlike adjective
• untrumpeted 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

The Railroad Commission and the state’s oil industry trumpet their work to reduce flaring.

From Salon

“I needed somebody that could play the trumpet and then someone to play clarinet for the polkas,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Newsom also trumpeted progress already made on crime in the state, but said the numbers alone mean little to Californians.

From Los Angeles Times

Their appearance was a sensation – combining sheer technical skill with a thrilling joie de vivre, as they span their double basses, twirled their trumpets and clattered their cowbells, all while clad in Venezuelan-flag jackets.

From BBC

“You know this is in the Book of Revelations. The horns. Well, trumpets. But it’s like the same thing. It’s alarming.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advertise 
• proclaim 
• publish 
• tout