Trumpet
A trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group contains the instruments with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpet-like instruments have historically been used as signaling devices in battle or hunting, with examples dating back to at least 1500 BC; they began to be used as musical instruments only in the late 14th or early 15th century. Trumpets are used in art music styles, for instance in orchestras, concert bands, and jazz ensembles, as well as in popular music. They are played by blowing air through nearly-closed lips (called the player’s embouchure), producing a “buzzing” sound that starts a standing wave vibration in the air column inside the instrument. Since the late 15th century they have primarily been constructed of brass tubing, usually bent twice into a rounded rectangular shape.There are many distinct types of trumpet, with the most common being pitched in B♭ (a transposing instrument), having a tubing length of about 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in). Early trumpets did not provide means to change the length of tubing, whereas modern instruments generally have three (or sometimes four) valves in order to change their pitch. Most trumpets have valves of the piston type, while some have the rotary type. The use of rotary-valved trumpets is more common in orchestral settings, although this practice varies by country. Each valve, when engaged, increases the length of tubing, lowering the pitch of the instrument. A musician who plays the trumpet is called a trumpet player or trumpeter.
Trumpet (noun)
A musical instrument of the brass family, generally tuned to the key of B-flat; by extension, any type of lip-vibrated aerophone, most often valveless and not chromatic.
“The royal herald sounded a trumpet to announce their arrival.”
Trumpet (noun)
In an orchestra or other musical group, a musician that plays the trumpet.
“The trumpets were assigned to stand at the rear of the orchestra pit.”
Trumpet (noun)
The cry of an elephant.
“The large bull gave a basso trumpet as he charged the hunters.”
Trumpet (noun)
One who praises, or propagates praise, or is the instrument of propagating it.
Trumpet (noun)
A funnel, or short flaring pipe, used as a guide or conductor, as for yarn in a knitting machine.
Trumpet (noun)
A kind of traffic interchange involving at least one loop ramp connecting traffic either entering or leaving the terminating expressway with the far lanes of the continuous highway.
Trumpet (verb)
To sound loudly, be amplified
“The music trumpeted from the speakers, hurting my ears.”
Trumpet (verb)
To play the trumpet.
“Cedric made a living trumpeting for the change of passersby in the subway.”
Trumpet (verb)
Of an elephant, to make its cry.
“The circus trainer cracked the whip, signaling the elephant to trumpet.”
Trumpet (verb)
To proclaim loudly; to promote enthusiastically
“Andy trumpeted Jane’s secret across the school, much to her embarrassment.””
Clarion (noun)
A medieval brass instrument, related to the trumpet, or its sound.
“The clarion’s call to action has been heard.”
Clarion (noun)
A different type of musical instrument resembling an organ.
Clarion (verb)
To sound a clarion trumpet-like instrument.
Clarion (noun)
a shrill narrow-tubed war trumpet.
Clarion (noun)
an organ stop with a quality resembling that of a clarion.
Clarion (adjective)
loud and clear
“clarion trumpeters”