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

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."

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 notes

In 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

Word forms

tubas plural, tubas plural, tubae plural

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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.

Origin: Latin · First attested 1800

Class of 1800 tuba joined the language around 1800.

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Synonyms

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grunt-horn

Rhymes for tuba

Cuba Aruba scuba

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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.