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Glite Dictionary
single-reed instrument

single-reed instrument

4.5
A musical instrument like a clarinet or saxophone that makes sound when air passes one reed
  • noun
translation icon : instrumento de lengüeta simple
  • The clarinet is a well-known single-reed instrument often featured in orchestras.

Examples

  • Many jazz musicians choose the saxophone, a popular single-reed instrument, for its expressive sound.

  • Unlike the oboe, which is a double-reed, the bass clarinet is classified as a single-reed instrument.

  • The single-reed instrument is popular in jazz music.

  • Many musicians prefer the single-reed instruments like the saxophone.

  • Many jazz musicians choose the saxophone, a popular single-reed instrument, for its expressive sound.

  • The clarinet is a well-known single-reed instrument often featured in orchestras.

  • Unlike the oboe, which is a double-reed, the bass clarinet is classified as a single-reed instrument.

Synonyms

single-reed woodwind
vssingle-reed instrument
6.4

A wind instrument that uses one reed to make sound, like a clarinet or saxophone

is the general label for the same idea using broader wording

Surface Forms

single-reed instrument singular
single-reed instruments plural

Morphology

single-reed + instrument

The meaning is fully compositional: it denotes an instrument that uses a single reed, which a learner can derive from combining 'single' + 'reed' with 'instrument'. This follows normal English compounding patterns (and similar labels exist in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will understand the MWE.

Etymology

The noun single-reed instrument comes from the small thin piece of wood called a reed that sits on the mouthpiece and vibrates when a player blows air, and because only one reed vibrates it is called single. So instruments like the clarinet or saxophone are named single-reed instruments because that single vibrating reed makes their sound.