# pipe organ

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pipe-organ
Updated: 2026-07-28

## Definition

a huge musical instrument, often found in churches, that makes sound by pushing air through many metal or wooden tubes. You play it by pressing keys and pedals with your hands and feet.

For teachers: a keyboard instrument in which sound is produced by forcing air through ranks of pipes of various materials and dimensions, each specifically tuned. Typically integrated into the architecture of large architectural structures like cathedrals or concert halls.

## Examples

- The pipe organ produces a magnificent, powerful sound.
- The cathedral's pipe organ features over three thousand individual pipes, ranging from the size of a pencil to several metres high.
- The restoration of the Victorian pipe organ required months of meticulous labor to ensure the bellows and tracker action functioned with their original precision.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in the singular when referring to the specific instrument installation within a building.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.