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Glite Dictionary
alto saxophonist

alto saxophonist

1 5.4
A musician who plays the alto saxophone
  • noun
  • /ˈæltoʊ ˌsæksəˈfoʊnɪst/
translation icon : saxofonista de alto
  • As an accomplished alto saxophonist, she has performed with many famous bands and musicians.
  • Mr. alto saxophonist

Examples

  • The talented alto saxophonist played a mesmerizing solo during the jazz concert last night.

  • After that, the alto saxophonist plays his version for one chorus, and the tenor saxophonist next to him plays a completely different variation on the same melody.

    Academic text (2014)

  • Alto clarinetists, alto saxophonists, and baritone saxophonists can read the E-flat horn parts.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The young alto saxophonist won the competition with her stunning interpretation of a classic jazz piece.

Synonyms

saxophonist
vsalto saxophonist
12 4.4

A person who plays the saxophone, often as a professional musician

is specific to the alto type rather than any saxophone
altoist
vsalto saxophonist
  • Jargon
9.0

A musician who plays the alto sax

is the longer phrase rather than the shorter name
saxist
vsalto saxophonist
7.9

A person who plays the saxophone

is limited to the alto type rather than general saxophone players

Surface Forms

alto saxophonist singular
alto saxophonists plural

Morphology

alto + saxophonist

The meaning is directly compositional: 'alto' specifies the pitch/register (type) and 'saxophonist' names a saxophone player, so together they mean a musician who plays the alto saxophone. This noun+modifier pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The compound noun alto saxophonist comes from the two parts alto (the name for a medium-high saxophone that plays higher notes than bigger saxophones) and saxophonist (a person who plays the saxophone), so it means 'a musician who plays the alto saxophone'.