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noun

accordion

uh-KAW-dee-uhn

Accordion (noun) means a boxy musical instrument with folding bellows, played by pressing buttons or keys while squeezing air through it. Example: “He played a lively tune on the accordion at the street festival.”

noun
1
A boxy musical instrument with folding bellows, played by pressing buttons or keys while squeezing air through it.
"He played a lively tune on the accordion at the street festival."
2
A user-interface element made of sections that expand and collapse, similar to the instrument's folds.
"Click each heading to expand the accordion and reveal more details."

How to use accordion

Learner’s notes
Common pairings
play the accordion accordion menu accordion fold

Word forms

accordioned past tense, accordions plural, accordions singular

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He played a lively tune on the _____ at the street festival.

Etymology

Borrowed in the 1830s from German Akkordeon, from Akkord ("harmony, chord"), itself from French accord — the same root as the word "accord."

Origin: French · First attested 1830

Class of 1830 accordion joined the language around 1830.
See the full Class of 1830 →
squeeze box piano accordion

Rhymes for accordion

See all rhymes for accordion →

Frequently asked questions

What does “accordion” mean?

The word “accordion” means a boxy musical instrument with folding bellows, played by pressing buttons or keys while squeezing air through it.

How do you pronounce “accordion”?

“Accordion” is pronounced uh-KAW-dee-uhn (/əˈkoɹ.di.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “accordion” in a sentence?

Here is “accordion” used in a sentence: “He played a lively tune on the accordion at the street festival.”

What part of speech is “accordion”?

“Accordion” is a noun.

Where does the word “accordion” come from?

The word “accordion” dates back to around 1830 and comes from French. Borrowed in the 1830s from German Akkordeon, from Akkord ("harmony, chord"), itself from French accord — the same root as the word "accord.".

How many meanings does “accordion” have?

“Accordion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a boxy musical instrument with folding bellows, played by pressing buttons or keys while squeezing air through it.

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