Word
harpsichord
Phoneticsharp·si·chord, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɑɹpsəˌkɔɹd/
UK/hˈɑːpsɪkˌɔːd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a keyboard instrument like an early piano, but its strings are plucked to make a bright, sharp sound. People played it a lot in Baroque music before the modern piano took over.
n. a keyboard instrument in which strings are plucked by quills or plectra when keys are pressed, producing a bright, crisp tone without dynamic variation by touch. Prominent in Baroque solo and continuo repertoire before displacement by the pianoforte.
Examples
“She plays the harpsichord every Sunday morning.”
“The museum lets visitors hear a restored harpsichord from the 1700s during the afternoon concert.”
“The restored harpsichord fills the small hall with bright, plucked tones that suit fast old dances and rich harmonies.”
Examples
simple
“She plays the harpsichord every Sunday morning.”
contextual
“The museum lets visitors hear a restored harpsichord from the 1700s during the afternoon concert.”
complex
“The restored harpsichord fills the small hall with bright, plucked tones that suit fast old dances and rich harmonies.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “harpsichord” in context.
Verb
01. compose for harpsichord
“Bach loved to compose for harpsichord as well as for organ.”
verb + prep + noun
02. harpsichord accompanies
“In this aria, the harpsichord accompanies the soprano with delicate chords.”
noun + verb
03. harpsichord rings
“The harpsichord rings clearly even in a large concert hall.”
noun + verb
04. play harpsichord
“He learned to play harpsichord after years of studying modern piano.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. antique harpsichord
“She inherited an antique harpsichord that still holds its tuning well.”
adj + noun
06. baroque harpsichord
“The museum displays a beautifully preserved Baroque harpsichord from 1742.”
adj + noun
07. italian harpsichord
“The Italian harpsichord has a lighter, more singing tone than Flemish models.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. concerto for harpsichord
“They performed a lively concerto for harpsichord and string orchestra.”
noun + prep + noun
09. accompanied by harpsichord and cello
“The recitative was sensitively accompanied by harpsichord and cello.”
10. bright sound of the harpsichord
“The bright sound of the harpsichord filled the small chapel.”
11. concerto for harpsichord and strings
“The festival closed with a concerto for harpsichord and strings.”
12. play bach on the harpsichord
“She loves to play Bach on the harpsichord every Sunday morning.”
Real-World Examples
“In the pit, Alex Robinson directs the orchestra from the harpsichord with some imaginative touches that are slightly outweighed by steady tempos.” Etymology
Early 1600s, borrowed from French harpechord (“harp string”), from New Latin harpichordium, from harpa (“harp”) + chorda (“string”). Influenced by and possibly also borrowed from Italian arpicordo, producing variant spellings. The unetymological -s-, which predominates by the 1660s, is of unclear origin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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