theremin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareSpecialised / Technical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “theremin” mean?
An early electronic musical instrument, played without physical contact.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An early electronic musical instrument, played without physical contact.
A musical instrument that generates sound via two high-frequency oscillators controlled by the proximity of the player's hands to two antennas, one for pitch and one for volume. It produces a distinctive, eerie, continuous sound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. Pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Identical connotations of novelty, early electronics, and science-fiction soundtracks.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “theremin” in a Sentence
play + [the] + thereminlisten to + a + thereminthe + sound of + a + thereminVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “theremin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No established verb use]
American English
- [No established verb use]
adverb
British English
- [No established adverb use]
American English
- [No established adverb use]
adjective
British English
- [No established adjective use]
American English
- [No established adjective use]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
[Almost never used]
Academic
Used in historical or musicological texts discussing 20th-century electronic music.
Everyday
Rare, mostly in contexts discussing unusual instruments or classic sci-fi movie soundtracks.
Technical
Used in electronic music, instrument history, and music technology discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “theremin”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “theremin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “theremin”
- Spelling: 'therimin', 'theramin'. Pronunciation: placing stress on the second syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The theremin was invented by the Russian physicist Léon Theremin (born Lev Sergeyevich Termen) in 1920 and patented in 1928.
Yes, it is notoriously difficult to play in tune because it has no frets, keys, or other physical reference points; pitch is controlled entirely by the hand's distance from the antenna.
Its sound is iconic in 1950s science-fiction films (e.g., 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'), in the Beach Boys song 'Good Vibrations', and in various works of avant-garde and electronic music.
Yes, both modern digital reproductions and traditional analog theremins are still manufactured and used by musicians and enthusiasts.
An early electronic musical instrument, played without physical contact.
Theremin is usually specialised / technical / historical in register.
Theremin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθɛrəmɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθɛrəmɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a scientist named 'THERE' who 'MIN's for sounds in the air with his hands.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROLLING AN INVISIBLE FORCE IS PLAYING THE THEREMIN.
Practice
Quiz
How is a theremin primarily played?