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Definition of vibraphone

vibraphone

/ˈvaɪ.brə.foʊn/
vi · bra · phone
Plural:vibraphones
•
Adjective:vibraphonic
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vibraphone Lexical Profile

vibraphone Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A musical percussion instrument resembling the xylophone but featuring tuned metal bars, a sustain pedal, and motor-driven resonators that produce a characteristic pulsating vibrato sound.

Example

"The jazz quartet featured a long, mesmerizing solo on the vibraphone."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for vibraphone

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with the xylophone and marimba, which have wooden bars, whereas the vibraphone is distinguished by its tuned metal bars, a sustain pedal, and a motor that creates a vibrato effect.

• Nearby Words

vibrancy
vibrant
vibrantly
vibraphone
vibrate
vibration
vibrational

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the United States in the early 1920s as a commercial name, formed by combining 'vibrato' (or 'vibration') with the Greek suffix '-phone' (sound).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Vibraphone. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/vibraphone
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