double bass

[ beys ]
/ beɪs /

noun

the largest instrument of the violin family, having three or, usually, four strings, rested vertically on the floor when played.
Also called bass fiddle, bass viol, contrabass, string bass.

Origin of double bass

First recorded in 1720–30

OTHER WORDS FROM double bass

double bassist, noun

Words nearby double bass

double agent, double altar, double ax, double back, double bar, double bass, double bassoon, double batten, double bed, double bill, double bind

Example sentences from the Web for double bass

British Dictionary definitions for double bass

double bass
/ (beɪs) /

noun

Also called (US): bass viol a stringed instrument, the largest and lowest member of the violin family. Range: almost three octaves upwards from E in the space between the fourth and fifth leger lines below the bass staff. It is normally bowed in classical music, but it is very common in a jazz or dance band, where it is practically always played pizzicato Informal name: bass fiddle

adjective double-bass

of or relating to an instrument whose pitch lies below that regarded as the bass; contrabass

Cultural definitions for double bass

double bass

Another name for the bass viol.