player-piano

A player-piano sits in a cozy living room, playing a lively tune.

Definition

Noun: - A type of piano that automatically plays music by means of a mechanical or electronic mechanism, typically using a perforated paper roll or digital data to control the keys and pedals.

Usage Examples

• (A piano that operates without a human performer.)
• (The perforated paper sheets used to program the piano's automatic performance.)

Advanced Usage

• "player-piano effect": An economic term referring to a situation where automation replaces human labor, named after the device's ability to play without a pianist.
  • The factory's shift to robotics created a player-piano effect, eliminating many manual jobs. (Automation replaced human workers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Player piano (n): a synonym for player-piano, often spelled without a hyphen.

  • The player piano in the museum was a popular attraction. (Same meaning as player-piano.)

• Pianola (n): a historical brand name that became a generic term for player-pianos.

  • He learned to operate a pianola by pumping the pedals. (A mechanical player-piano.)

Synonyms

• Self-playing piano: a piano that performs automatically.
• Automatic piano: a piano that plays without human intervention.

Related Idioms

• None specifically associated with "player-piano" as a standalone idiom, but the device is often referenced in discussions of automation and nostalgia.