a keyboard percussion instrument consisting of a set of steel plates of graduated length that are struck with key-operated hammers. The tone is an ethereal tinkling sound. Range: four octaves upwards from middle C
Word origin
C19: from French, Latinized variant of céleste heavenly
celesta in American English
(səˈlɛstə)
noun
a small keyboard instrument with hammers that strike small metal plates to producebell-like tones