clarinet

IPA/ˌklærəˈnet/
KK[klˌɛrənˈɛt]IPA/ˌklærəˈnet/

clarinet — noun

  • clarinetsingular
  • clarinetsplural

1. a long, narrow musical instrument made of wood or dark plastic. You hold it poin

1.nounB1
Definition

a long, narrow musical instrument made of wood or dark plastic. You hold it pointing down and blow into the mouthpiece, where a thin piece of material (called a reed) shakes to create sound.

Example

Hui practised the clarinet for two hours every evening in her small apartment.

collocation: practise + the clarinet

The school band needed a new clarinet player after Samir moved away.

collocation: clarinet player

Common collocations
  • play the clarinet
  • clarinet player
  • clarinet section
  • clarinet solo
  • clarinet case
  • clarinet reed
  • learn the clarinet
  • clarinet teacher

Grammar Patterns

play + the + clarinet

a + clarinet

clarinet + noun

Usage Note

When talking about the instrument as a type of activity, use 'the': 'play the clarinet'. When referring to one physical instrument, use 'a': 'She bought a clarinet.'

Common Mistakes

I play clarinet every day.
I play the clarinet every day.
In English, 'the' is used before musical instruments when talking about them as a skill or hobby.

Word family

  • clarinetist
    nounB2
  • clarinettist
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The clarinet, oboe, and saxophone are all woodwind instruments with a single or double reed, but they differ in sound and construction. The clarinet has a single reed and a cylindrical bore, which gives it a warm, smooth tone across a wide range. The oboe uses a double reed (two pieces tied together) and a conical bore, producing a sharper, more piercing sound often used for solos in orchestras. The saxophone, also single-reed, is made of brass and has a conical bore, giving it a louder, brighter tone favoured in jazz and military bands. While the clarinet is common in both classical orchestras and jazz, the oboe is mainly orchestral, and the saxophone is rare in classical orchestras but central to jazz ensembles.

clarinet ↗oboesaxophone

Etymology

ItalianFrenchEnglish

The word 'clarinet' came into English from French 'clarinette', which was formed from Italian 'clarinetto'. The Italian word 'clarinetto' is a smaller version of 'clarino', meaning a type of clear-sounding trumpet. The name refers to the instrument's bright, clear tone — the Italian root 'claro' means 'clear' or 'bright'.

First known use

1733

1733, in the meaning defined above