contrabass
contrabass — noun
- contrabasssingular
- contrabassesplural
1. a very large bowed instrument from the violin family, played upright to supply t
a very large bowed instrument from the violin family, played upright to supply the deepest notes in a band or orchestra
Otis rented a contrabass for the youth orchestra's spring tour.
collocation: rent a contrabass
Bao leaned the contrabass against the studio wall after playing the lowest line.
context: playing the lowest line
The teacher asked Ravindra to tune the contrabass before rehearsal.
Amani could feel the contrabass vibrating through the stage floor.
Benjamin lifted the contrabass carefully into the back of the van.
- double bass
the usual everyday name for this instrument
- upright bass
common in jazz and popular-music contexts
- string bass
an older label, especially in some American school settings
用法筆記
In everyday English, many musicians call this instrument a double bass. Contrabass sounds more formal or technical.
2. an instrument whose range sits below the ordinary bass version in the same famil
an instrument whose range sits below the ordinary bass version in the same family, giving it a much deeper sound
Mayumi studies the contrabass recorder because she loves very low notes.
pattern: contrabass + instrument name
Talia heard a contrabass clarinet in the school band's warm-up.
Sofia borrowed a contrabass flute for the modern music workshop.
During the instrument tour, Defne pointed to the contrabass clarinet below the bass clarinet.
Yael chose the contrabass instrument when the score asked for the lowest part.
用法筆記
This sense usually appears with the full instrument name, such as contrabass clarinet or contrabass recorder, rather than standing alone.
常見錯誤
contrabass — adjective
- contrabasspositive
- more contrabasscomparative
- most contrabasssuperlative
1. describing an instrument that sounds about one octave lower than the usual bass
describing an instrument that sounds about one octave lower than the usual bass form of that instrument
The museum displayed a contrabass trombone beside a standard bass trombone.
contrast: contrabass trombone vs bass trombone
At Friday's rehearsal, our conductor requested a contrabass clarinet for the final movement.
context: rehearsal request for contrabass clarinet
In the church hall, a contrabass flute opens the piece under the choir.
The school band could not afford the contrabass saxophone on this year's budget.
Jude marked the contrabass tuba for the deepest brass sound.
文法句型
contrabass + instrument noun
用法筆記
This adjective normally comes before the instrument name. It is mainly used in formal music naming.