contrabass
1 of 2noun
con·tra·bass ˈkän-trə-ˌbās 
: double bass
contrabassist
ˈkän-trə-ˌbā-sist
noun contrabass
2 of 2adjective
: pitched lower than a bass instrument of the same type
a contrabass clarinet
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2022 Selections from Two-Part Inventions (arranged for violin and contrabass), Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins in C Major, Op. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2020 They were greatly assisted by Heather Vorwerck on baroque cello (held between her legs was the practice) and by Shanon Zusman on the violone, the five-stringed predecessor to the contrabass. San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2019 The other revelation on this concert was Prokofiev’s 1924 Quintet in G minor, scored for the odd ensemble of oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and contrabass. San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2019 San Diego State University’s Community Music School offers a variety of workshops for strings, contrabass and piano. Beth Wood, sandiegouniontribune.com, 13 May 2018 The instrumentation requires extra winds (including a contrabass clarinet) and brass (six horns, four trombones). Christian Hertzog, sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 May 2018 The deep-sea contrabass clarinet and contrabassoon that Salonen love contribute a strange bottom to the orchestral sound. Mark Swed, latimes.com, 16 Apr. 2018 Mark Dresser Quintet Expect a night of dazzling aural adventure when San Diego contrabass great Mark Dresser is joined by a stellar band featuring the superb flutist Nicole Mitchell, rising piano phenom Joshua White and trombonist Michael Dessen. George Varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, 25 Mar. 2018 See More
Noun
At the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, a standing ovation for Tijuana composer Andrés Martín and conductor Ankush Kumar Bahl Consider the contrabass, a loyal servant in the orchestra. San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2022 Selections from Two-Part Inventions (arranged for violin and contrabass), Prokofiev’s Sonata for Two Violins in C Major, Op. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2020 They were greatly assisted by Heather Vorwerck on baroque cello (held between her legs was the practice) and by Shanon Zusman on the violone, the five-stringed predecessor to the contrabass. San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2019 The other revelation on this concert was Prokofiev’s 1924 Quintet in G minor, scored for the odd ensemble of oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and contrabass. San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2019 San Diego State University’s Community Music School offers a variety of workshops for strings, contrabass and piano. Beth Wood, sandiegouniontribune.com, 13 May 2018 The instrumentation requires extra winds (including a contrabass clarinet) and brass (six horns, four trombones). Christian Hertzog, sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 May 2018 The deep-sea contrabass clarinet and contrabassoon that Salonen love contribute a strange bottom to the orchestral sound. Mark Swed, latimes.com, 16 Apr. 2018 Mark Dresser Quintet Expect a night of dazzling aural adventure when San Diego contrabass great Mark Dresser is joined by a stellar band featuring the superb flutist Nicole Mitchell, rising piano phenom Joshua White and trombonist Michael Dessen. George Varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, 25 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Italian contrabbasso, from contra- + basso bass
First Known Use
Noun
1761, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1834, in the meaning defined above