xylophone
A percussion instrument with wooden bars struck by mallets.
Word facts
Definition
A xylophone is a musical instrument consisting of a set of wooden bars of different lengths that are struck with mallets to produce musical notes. Each bar produces a different pitch.
Usage: A xylophone uses wooden bars; a marimba is similar but larger; a glockenspiel uses metal bars. All are struck idiophones — instruments that make sound from the body of the instrument itself.
Example sentences
- 1
The children's song was played gently on a xylophone.
- 2
She learned to read music using a colourful classroom xylophone.
- 3
The xylophone produces a bright, resonant sound when the bars are struck cleanly.
Word family
From Greek xylo- ('wood') + phone ('sound, voice'). A xylophone is literally a 'wood sound' instrument — music made from striking wood.
Xylo = wood. Phone = sound. A xylophone makes sound from wood. Think of xylophone as 'wood + phone'.
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FAQ
Questions people ask
How many syllables does xylophone have?
Three syllables: xy-lo-phone. The stress is on the first syllable: ZY-luh-fohn.
What is the difference between a xylophone and a marimba?
Both use wooden bars and mallets, but a marimba is larger, has a deeper tone, and its bars have tubular resonators underneath.