parlor grand piano
- noun
- /ˈpɑːrlər ɡrænd ˈpiːənoʊ/
- Archaic
:
piano de salón
- At the recital, she performed flawlessly on an antique parlor grand piano that once belonged to her grandmother.
Examples
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She plays the parlor grand piano beautifully.
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Many music teachers recommend a parlor grand piano for students who want a rich sound but have limited space.
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The elegant parlor grand piano stood in the corner of the living room, gleaming in the sunlight.
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The parlor grand piano fits perfectly in the living room.
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She loved playing classical music on her beautiful parlor grand piano at home.
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The small concert featured a talented pianist performing on a rich-toned parlor grand piano.
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In the corner of the living room, the parlor grand piano became the centerpiece for family gatherings.
Synonyms
8
3.0
A large piano shaped like a wing with a rich sound
4
4.8
A small grand piano that fits in small rooms
1
3.9
A small piano with a curved lid like a large piano that fits in a home
A small piano with strings that lie flat, for homes and small rooms
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'parlor' (a room for guests) modifies 'grand piano', so it denotes a grand piano intended for domestic/parlor use. That usage typically implies a smaller, shorter instrument than a concert grand, a conclusion a B1 learner can reasonably reach from knowing the constituent words and common modifier patterns.
Etymology
Parlor grand piano comes from the idea of a parlor as the main sitting room in a house and the grand piano as the large, rich-sounding instrument, so a smaller version made to fit the parlor kept the name. That's why parlor grand piano means a 'small' grand piano meant for use in a 'home' or small room.