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saxophone

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: Saxophone and saxophoné

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French saxophone, a combination of the surname of its inventor Adolphe Sax (1814–1894) + -o- + -phone (“something that makes a sound”), from Ancient Greek φωνή (phōnḗ, “sound, voice”). The first element surname is a variant of the German Sachs (“Saxon”). Analyzable as Sax +‎ -o- +‎ -phone.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈsæksəfoʊn/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

saxophone (plural saxophones)

  1. A single-reed instrument musical instrument of the woodwind family, usually made of brass and with a distinctive loop bringing the bell upwards.
    Synonyms: sax, gobble-pipe, saxomaphone
    I played the saxophone in high school.
  2. Someone who plays the saxophone; a saxophonist.
    The saxophones typically sit behind the flutes in a concert band.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

saxophone (third-person singular simple present saxophones, present participle saxophoning, simple past and past participle saxophoned)

  1. To play the saxophone.

References

  • Wilson, R.M., and Reaney, Percy H., Dictionary of English Surnames, 3rd ed., Oxford University Press, 1995.

Further reading

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French

Etymology

Sax +‎ -o- +‎ -phone. Named after Adolphe Sax (1814–1894), its inventor.

Pronunciation

Noun

saxophone m (plural saxophones)

  1. saxophone

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → English: saxophone
  • → Spanish: saxofón

Verb

saxophone

  1. inflection of saxophoner:
    1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
    2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

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