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theremin

theremin

4 9.9
An electronic instrument played without touch by moving your hands near two metal rods
  • noun
  • /ˈθɛrəˌmɪn/
  • Specialized
: theremín
  • What's interesting about a theremin, Jack, is you play it without touching it.
  • play the theremin
  • theremin, an electronic instrument
  • wail of a theremin

Theremin sold his patent for the Theremin to RCA.

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Examples

  • The theremin produces eerie sounds as the musician moves their hands near the antennas.

  • We need a theremin player.

  • I dig the theremin at the end.

  • The theremin is an interesting instrument.

    Blog text (14)
  • Take one pure musical genius, give him six months' time and way too many drugs, and you get the most amazing song ever to feature a theremin.

    Blog text (5)
  • It's a reference to American movies—50s "B" horror movies in which much of the sound effects were provided by a device known as the Theremin.

    Blog text (14)
  • Electronic performance instruments such as the Hammond organ, Theremin, and Ondes Martenot were created and played in public to some level of success.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Playing the theremin allows you to create music without actually touching the instrument.

  • At the concert, the theremin player captivated the audience with ethereal melodies.

Synonyms

1 4.2

A musical instrument that makes sound using electricity

is a specific kind played without touching using hand proximity to antennas

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

is the specific type played without touching, hands control pitch and volume near antennas

How Electronic

synthesizer
15 3.9
theremin
  • Specialized
4 9.9
piano
600 1.0
violin
191 1.8

Surface Forms

theremin singular
theremins plural

Etymology

The word theremin comes from the name of its inventor, Theremin, who made a musical device you play 'without touch' by moving your hands near two antennas. That's why a theremin is an electronic instrument known for its eerie sound and for being played in the air.