celesta

[ suh-les-tuh ]
/ səˈlɛs tə /

noun

a musical instrument consisting principally of a set of graduated steel plates struck with hammers that are activated by a keyboard.

Origin of celesta

1895–1900; < French célesta, for céleste, literally, heavenly (see celestial); the -a for -e makes the name pseudo-Italian

Words nearby celesta

celerity, celery, celery cabbage, celery pine, celery salt, celesta, celeste, celestial, celestial city, celestial empire, celestial equator

Example sentences from the Web for celesta

British Dictionary definitions for celesta

celesta

celeste (sɪˈlɛst)

/ (sɪˈlɛstə) /

noun

music a keyboard percussion instrument consisting of a set of steel plates of graduated length that are struck with key-operated hammers. The tone is an ethereal tinkling sound. Range: four octaves upwards from middle C

Word Origin for celesta

C19: from French, Latinized variant of céleste heavenly