Harmonium
/hɑɹˈmoʊ.ni.əm/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small keyboard instrument that consists of a series of reed pipes, which sound when one of the keys is pressed to open a valve that allows air to pass through.
"The only other man was a little grey-headed fellow with a pleasant face and quick, twinkling eyes, who sat at a harmonium in the corner."
- 2 a free-reeded instrument with a piano keyboard in which air is forced through the reeds by bellows wordnet
- 3 Synonym of Hooke's atom.
Example
More examples"The harmonium, accordion and mouth organ are aerophones with vibrating reeds."
Etymology
Borrowed from French harmonium, a term coined by French inventor Alexandre Debain in 1840.