Clavichord

//ˈklæv.ɪˌkɔɹd// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An early keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades (called tangents) attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the strings.
  2. 2
    an early stringed instrument like a piano but with more delicate sound wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
harpsichordbaby grandcembaloclarichordclavicembaloclavicittern

Example

More examples

"Anyone who has never strung a spinet, clavichord, or harpsichord cannot imagine what kinds of problems can arise, from the choice of strings, to the actual stretching of the strings until they are tuned."

Etymology

From German Klavichord, from Renaissance Latin clavichordium, from clāvis (“key”) + chorda (“cord, string”).

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.