Definition of 'tuba'
Image of
tuba
© the palms, Shutterstock
Word Frequency
tuba in British English
nounWord forms: plural -bas or -bae (-biː)
1. Also called: bass horn
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Latin
Word Frequency
tuba in American English
nounWord forms: plural ˈtubas or ˈtubae (ˈtubi
; ˈtjubi
)
1.
in ancient Rome, a straight war trumpet
2.
any of a group of brass instruments with a conical bore and three to five valves, esp. the large contrabass member
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
L, a trumpet
Word Frequency
tuba in American English
(ˈtuːbə, ˈtjuː-)
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1850–55; ‹ L: trumpet; akin to tube]Examples of 'tuba' in a sentence
tuba
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Word lists with
tuba
instrument, orchestraQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which musical instrument am I?
any of a family of musical wind instruments in which sounds are produced in reed pipes supplied with air from a bag inflated either by the player's mouth, as in the Irish bagpipes or Highland bagpipes of Scotland, or by arm-operated bellows, as in the Northumbrian bagpipes
Which musical instrument am I?
a type of viol held on the shoulder, from which the modern viola was developed
Which musical instrument am I?
a large lute with a double neck in common use during the baroque period, esp in Italy
Which musical instrument am I?
a type of organ powered by steam, once common at fairgrounds, in which the pipes are sounded either by a keyboard or in a sequence determined by a moving punched card
Which musical instrument am I?
a percussion instrument consisting of a set of vertical metal tubes of graduated length, suspended in a frame and struck with a hammer
Your score:
Trends of
tuba
View usage for:
Browse alphabetically
tuba
Related terms of
tuba
Source
Definition of tuba from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
classic or classical?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
classic
classical
This is one of the works of Hollywood cinema.
assignment or homework?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
homework
assignment
We get every day.
beside or besides?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
besides
beside
What languages do you know Arabic and English?
also or too?
Which version is correct?
conscience or consciousness?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Word of the day
blue-water
designed to operate on and range over the open sea; oceangoing
Latest Word Submissions
The One With All The Friends Vocabulary
Nearly 30 years after the final episode aired, fans around the world rejoiced as Friends: The Reunion finally graced our screens. As the cast toured the iconic sets and reflected on fond memories, we started reminiscing about the show’s classic words and phrases.
Read more
7 mouth-watering foodie words with roots in other languages
How many foodie words have made their way into English vocabulary that came from international cuisine? Whether you’re devoted to doppio or mad about mango, we’ve explored foodie words in the Collins Dictionary with origins in other languages to tease your tastebuds.
Read more
Say Something Nice Day!
Nada cuesta añadir una sonrisa, ‘It costs nothing to add a smile’, is a Spanish phrase imprinted on my memory from when, years ago, I taught myself to touch-type in Spanish and it was one of the practice phrases.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
tea or tee?
Which version is correct?
feat or feet?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
feet
feat
I had aching arms and sore .
aisle or isle?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
aisle
isle
I found myself in the frozen food .
rain or reign or rein?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
rain
reign
rein
We had to stand out in the .
leak or leek?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
leek
leak
Add the diced onion, carrot and .
Your score: