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electronic instrument

electronic instrument

1 4.2
A musical instrument that makes sound using electricity
  • noun
  • /ɪˌlɛkˈtrɒnɪk ˈɪnstrʊmənt/
translation icon : instrumento electrónico
  • Several electronic instruments were attached to the trawl to monitor its performance.
  • sounds of electronic instruments
  • other electronic instruments

Examples

  • The primary purpose of the Musical Instrument Digital Interface is communication between or among two or more electronic instruments.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The theremin is an electronic instrument that produces sound without physical contact, using hand movements to control pitch.

  • Several years ago, my school district set out to purchase electronic instruments for all music and rehearsal rooms.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The invention of electronic instruments again changed the sound of the world we live in.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Electronic instruments and digital technology require practice and performance, just as learning an acoustic instrument does.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Generally, electronic keyboards are the least expensive electronic instruments.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Another way to achieve a good balance between instruments and voices is to use alternative orchestrations and incorporate electronic instruments.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Beginning in 1953, Stockhausen was one of the first to compose works for electronic instruments.

    Academic text (1997)
  • MIDI can connect computers or acoustic instruments to electronic instruments through a MIDI interface.

    Academic text (1994)
  • In later pieces, Riley infused his repetitive music with jazz and rock rhythms and the sounds of electronic instruments to create fine textures and "washes" of sound.

    Academic text (1998)

Synonyms

synthesizer
vselectronic instrument
23 3.9

An electronic instrument usually played with a keyboard that makes many sounds and copies other instruments

is the general class that covers devices making sound electronically
electric organ
vselectronic instrument
1 4.0

A keyboard instrument that makes sounds like a pipe organ using electricity

is a narrower keyboard example inside the larger electronic class
electronic musical instrument
vselectronic instrument
3.9

A device that makes musical sounds using electricity, like a synthesizer or keyboard

is the shorter form omitting the word for music
electronic organ
vselectronic instrument
4.4

A keyboard instrument that makes pipe-organ sounds using electronic parts

is a specific keyboard type within the broader electronic category
electronic drum set
vselectronic instrument
3.5

A set of drum pads and an electronic sound unit played like a drum kit

is a specific percussion setup within the wider electronic group
electronic drum kit
vselectronic instrument
4.1

A set of pads and electronics you play like drums to make different drum sounds

is the same general type but named for the drum equipment form

How Electronic

synthesizer
23 3.9
electronic instrument
1 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

electronic + instrument

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'electronic' (using electronic technology) and 'instrument' (a device producing musical sounds): an instrument that uses electronic technology to produce sound. This compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Electronic instrument comes from the simple picture of an instrument that uses electronic parts to make music. Imagine wires, small electric parts and speakers making the sound instead of strings or air, so the phrase means a musical device that makes 'sound' using electricity rather than by non-electric methods.