noun
bagpipes
BAG-pyps
Bagpipes (noun) means a wind instrument with an inflatable bag, a melody pipe, and one or more drone pipes that sound continuously as the bag is squeezed. Example: “A lone piper played the bagpipes as the procession entered the hall.”
noun
1
A wind instrument with an inflatable bag, a melody pipe, and one or more drone pipes that sound continuously as the bag is squeezed.
"“Iʼll tell you something: there is nothing in the world like the sound of the bagpipes to raise a manʼs morale, to lift his spirits, and give him strength.”"
— Jennifer Worth, Shadows of the Workhouse (2005)
"A lone piper played the bagpipes as the procession entered the hall."
"Bagpipes are strongly associated with Scottish and Irish traditional music."
"Bagpipes are traditionally played in most Celtic regions and many former parts of the British Empire."
How to use bagpipes
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe wind instrument played by squeezing air from a bag through reed pipes, famous in Scottish military and folk music.
Common pairings
play the bagpipes
skirl of the bagpipes
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Word forms
- Singular
- bagpipe
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A lone piper played the _____ as the procession entered the hall.
Etymology
Compound of bag and pipe(s), describing the instrument's air reservoir and sounding pipes.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bagpipes
See all rhymes for bagpipes →Frequently asked questions
What does “bagpipes” mean?
The word “bagpipes” means a wind instrument with an inflatable bag, a melody pipe, and one or more drone pipes that sound continuously as the bag is squeezed. In plain terms, the wind instrument played by squeezing air from a bag through reed pipes, famous in Scottish military and folk music.
How do you pronounce “bagpipes”?
“Bagpipes” is pronounced BAG-pyps (/ˈbæɡˌpaɪps/ in IPA).
How do you use “bagpipes” in a sentence?
Here is “bagpipes” used in a sentence: “A lone piper played the bagpipes as the procession entered the hall.”
What part of speech is “bagpipes”?
“Bagpipes” is a noun.
