harmonica
/hɑ:'mɔnikə/
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, rectangular, handheld musical instrument consisting of a row of air holes, each leading to a metal reed. Sound is produced by blowing air into or drawing air out of the holes.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- He played a blues tune on his harmonica.
- The sound of a harmonica echoed through the quiet street.
- She carries a harmonica in her pocket everywhere she goes.
Advanced Usage
- "To blow a harmonica": To play the harmonica by exhaling into it.
- He learned to blow a harmonica by listening to old records.
- "To play the mouth organ": An alternative name for playing the harmonica.
- In some regions, people say he can really play the mouth organ.
Variants and Related Words
- Mouth organ (n): Another common name for the harmonica.
- The mouth organ is a popular instrument in folk music.
- Blues harp (n): A type of harmonica, often a 10-hole diatonic model, commonly used in blues music.
- He is a master of the blues harp.
Synonyms
- Mouth harp: An informal synonym for harmonica.
- French harp: A regional term, primarily used in the Southern United States, for the harmonica.
Related Phrases
- "To harp on" (phrasal verb): To talk or complain about something repeatedly. (Note: This phrase uses "harp" in a different, idiomatic sense and is not directly related to the instrument, but is a common linguistic connection.)
- He's always harping on about the same old problem.
Related Idioms
- "Blow your own horn": To boast about your own achievements. While this idiom uses "horn," it is conceptually related to playing a wind instrument to draw attention to oneself, similar to how one might play a harmonica.
- He's not shy; he'll blow his own horn whenever he gets the chance.
Noun
-
a small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing into the desired hole
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