metallophone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Specialised
Quick answer
What does “metallophone” mean?
A percussion instrument consisting of tuned metal bars that are struck with a mallet to produce musical tones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A percussion instrument consisting of tuned metal bars that are struck with a mallet to produce musical tones.
Any musical instrument whose sound-producing element is a set of tuned metal bars, plates, or tubes, including orchestral instruments like the glockenspiel, vibraphone, and tubular bells. In a broader pedagogical context, specifically refers to a set of metal bars used in music education (e.g., Orff Schulwerk).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The word is equally rare in both varieties. Pronunciation differences follow general UK/US patterns for 'metal' and 'phone'.
Connotations
Primarily associated with formal musicology, instrument classification, or specific music education methodologies (Orff).
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Used almost exclusively in academic, musical, or educational contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “metallophone” in a Sentence
play (on) the [ADJ] metallophonethe [TYPE] metallophone (e.g., soprano, alto) is used for...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metallophone” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The metallophone section provided a bright, ringing timbre.
- An Orff ensemble typically includes metallophone instruments.
American English
- The metallophone part was written for a hard mallet.
- She specialized in metallophone repertoire.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in musicology for instrument classification (Hornbostel-Sachs system) and in academic papers on music education.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A speaker would say 'glockenspiel' or 'xylophone' instead.
Technical
Essential term in percussion and music education. Precise in distinguishing bar material (metal vs. wood vs. stone).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metallophone”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metallophone”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metallophone”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈmet.əl.ə.fəʊn/ (stress on first syllable). Correct stress is on the second syllable.
- Using it in general conversation instead of the specific instrument name.
- Confusing it with 'xylophone' (wood) or 'lithophone' (stone).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The key difference is the material of the sound-producing bars. A metallophone has metal bars, producing a brighter, longer-sustaining tone. A xylophone has wooden bars, producing a drier, more percussive sound.
Yes, absolutely. The glockenspiel (orchestral bells) is a specific type of metallophone with high-pitched, hardened steel bars.
One would use 'metallophone' when speaking about the entire category of metal-bar percussion instruments, or in a pedagogical context (like Orff Schulwerk) where the instrument is a generic teaching tool, not a specific orchestral instrument.
The stress is on the second syllable: muh-TAL-uh-fone (UK: /mɪˈtæl.ə.fəʊn/, US: /məˈtæl.ə.foʊn/).
A percussion instrument consisting of tuned metal bars that are struck with a mallet to produce musical tones.
Metallophone is usually technical/specialised in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There are no common idioms containing 'metallophone'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'METAL' + 'PHONE' (as in 'saxophone', meaning sound). It's an instrument where metal makes the sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not typically used metaphorically.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'metallophone' most precisely and commonly used?