noun
tuba
TYOO-buh
Tuba (noun) means a large brass instrument, usually the lowest-pitched in the brass section, played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece and pressing valves. Example: “The tuba player held down the bass line at the back of the marching band.”
noun
1
A large brass instrument, usually the lowest-pitched in the brass section, played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece and pressing valves.
"The tuba player held down the bass line at the back of the marching band."
"He's been learning the tuba since he was ten, and his lungs are stronger for it."
2
A reed stop on a pipe organ that imitates the sound of the brass instrument.
"The organist pulled out the tuba stop for the final, thunderous chord."
How to use tuba
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe big, low-pitched brass instrument you see wrapped around a player's body in a marching band.
Common pairings
play the tuba
tuba player
tuba section
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Word forms
- Plural
- tubas, tubae
Fill the gap
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The _____ player held down the bass line at the back of the marching band.
Etymology
Borrowed in the 1800s from French and German tuba, ultimately from Latin tuba, meaning "trumpet" — the same instrument used by Roman armies to signal troops.
Class of 1800
tuba joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Synonyms
View more →
sousaphone
grunt-horn
Rhymes for tuba
See all rhymes for tuba →Frequently asked questions
What does “tuba” mean?
The word “tuba” means a large brass instrument, usually the lowest-pitched in the brass section, played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece and pressing valves. In plain terms, the big, low-pitched brass instrument you see wrapped around a player's body in a marching band.
How do you pronounce “tuba”?
“Tuba” is pronounced TYOO-buh (/ˈtu.bə/ in IPA).
How do you use “tuba” in a sentence?
Here is “tuba” used in a sentence: “The tuba player held down the bass line at the back of the marching band.”
What is another word for “tuba”?
Words with a similar meaning to “tuba” include grunt-horn.
What part of speech is “tuba”?
“Tuba” is a noun.
Where does the word “tuba” come from?
The word “tuba” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Latin. Borrowed in the 1800s from French and German tuba, ultimately from Latin tuba, meaning "trumpet" — the same instrument used by Roman armies to signal troops.
How many meanings does “tuba” have?
“Tuba” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large brass instrument, usually the lowest-pitched in the brass section, played by buzzing the lips into a mouthpiece and pressing valves.
