clarinet

Meaning

A woodwind musical instrument that has a distinctive liquid tone whose characteristics vary among its three registers: chalumeau (low), clarion (medium), and altissimo (high).

Synonyms

flute

🪈

oboe

orchestra

philharmonic orchestra

piccolo

woodwind

woodwind instrument

clarionet

Translations

clarinette

Klarinette

clarinete

klarinet

klarnet

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌklæɹɪˈnɛt/

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian clarinetto, diminutive of clarino (“trumpet”) (as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet), from Latin clarus.
Alternatively, the word may come from French clarinette, diminutive form of clarine (“bell”), from clarin, from clair (“clear”), from Latin clarus.