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Glite Dictionary
cembalo

cembalo

9.9
A keyboard instrument like a piano that makes sound by plucking strings
  • noun
translation icon : cembalo
  • The musician performed a Baroque piece on the cembalo with impressive skill.

Examples

  • During the concert, the distinct sound of the cembalo filled the hall.

  • The cembalo produces a unique sound.

  • She specializes in early music and often plays the cembalo in her ensembles.

  • She plays the cembalo beautifully.

  • The musician mastered the cembalo, impressing the audience with its unique sound.

  • She played a beautiful melody on the cembalo during the concert.

  • The cembalo produces a distinctive tone that is different from the piano.

Synonyms

harpsichord
vscembalo
7 8.4

A keyboard instrument with strings plucked to make a bright sound

is the same instrument but given as an alternative name

Surface Forms

cembalo singular
cembalos plural

Etymology

Cembalo comes from an old word like cymbal, which meant 'metal bowl' or 'small dish' used to make sound. Think of the bright, ringing sound of a cymbal, and that image helped people name a plucked keyboard instrument a cembalo, which is the same as a harpsichord.