contrabass
[
kon
-tr
uh
-beys]
/ˈkɒn trəˌbeɪs/
noun
1.
(in any family of instruments) the member below the bass.
2.
(in the violin family) the double bass.
adjective
3.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of such instruments:
a contrabass trombone.
Origin
1590-1600;
<
Italian;
see
contrabasso
Related forms
contrabassist
[
kon
-tr
uh
-bey-sist, -bas-ist]
/ˈkɒn trəˌbeɪ sɪst, -ˌbæs ɪst/
(
Show IPA
),
noun
British Dictionary definitions for
contrabass
contrabass
/
ˌkɒntrəˈbeɪs
/
noun
1.
a member of any of various families of musical instruments that is lower in pitch than the bass
2.
another name for
double bass
adjective
3.
of or denoting the instrument of a family that is lower than the bass
Derived Forms
contrabassist
(
ˌkɒntrəˈbeɪsɪst
;
-ˈbæs-
)
noun