A double bass is the largest instrument in the violin family. You play the double bass with a bow while standing up and holding it upright in front of you.
double bass in British English
(beɪs)
noun
1. Also called (US): bass viol
a stringed instrument, the largest and lowest member of the violin family. Range: almost three octaves upwards from E in the space between the fourth and fifth leger lines below the bass staff. It is normally bowed in classical music, but it is very common in a jazz or dance band, where it is practically always played pizzicato
Informal name: bass fiddle
adjectivedouble-bass
2.
of or relating to an instrument whose pitch lies below that regarded as the bass; contrabass
double-bass in British English
(ˌdʌbəlˈbeɪs)
adjective
of or relating to an instrument whose pitch lies below that regarded as the bass
contrabass
double bass in American English
(beɪs)
the largest and deepest-toned instrument of the violin family (formerly, of the viol family), with a range of approximately three octaves
Examples of 'double bass' in a sentence
double bass
Just what we needed after the morning's ordeal by double bass and piano.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His routine includes getting dressed while walking along a cable, and playing drums, trumpet and double bass all at the same time.
The Sun (2009)
Word lists with
double bass
instrument, orchestra
In other languages
double bass
British English: double bass /ˈdʌbl beɪs/ NOUN
A double bass is the largest instrument in the violin family. You play it standing up.