harpsichord
noun
harp·si·chord ˈhärp-si-ˌkȯrd 
: a stringed instrument resembling a grand piano but usually having two keyboards and two or more strings for each note and producing tones by the plucking of strings with plectra
harpsichordist
ˈhärp-si-ˌkȯr-dist
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Benjamin Alard French musician Benjamin Alard is a master of both organ and harpsichord. 
San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 Our manager showed up the next day with a harpsichord and this weed called Train Wreck. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 13 May 2022 Hoping the change will prod the reluctant 13-year-old from his gloom, the senior Silbermann urges his son to make the most of his budding musical talents at the school – Stefan sings and plays the harpsichord and organ – before bidding him farewell. Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr. 2022 When the opera was unable to negotiate an agreement to hire 34 symphony musicians to play, the production went forward with a pianist and a harpsichord player playing the score. Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2022 The concert featured harpsichord, violin, organ and vocal sections in Bach’s compositions, with a closing performance of the Ukrainian National Anthem, the statement said. Globe Correspondent, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2022 The continuo was judiciously realized by Michael Sponseller on harpsichord and Jacob Street on organ. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2022 Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra violinist and concertmaster Margaret Batjer leads members of the ensemble in Dmitry Sitkovetsky’s string arrangement of Bach’s highly mutable 1741 composition originally written for the harpsichord. Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2022 As proof, a radiant Andriessen harpsichord solo and a shimmering Lucier triangle solo showed up recently on programs at Disney. Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021 See More
San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 Our manager showed up the next day with a harpsichord and this weed called Train Wreck. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 13 May 2022 Hoping the change will prod the reluctant 13-year-old from his gloom, the senior Silbermann urges his son to make the most of his budding musical talents at the school – Stefan sings and plays the harpsichord and organ – before bidding him farewell. Erin Douglass, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Apr. 2022 When the opera was unable to negotiate an agreement to hire 34 symphony musicians to play, the production went forward with a pianist and a harpsichord player playing the score. Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Apr. 2022 The concert featured harpsichord, violin, organ and vocal sections in Bach’s compositions, with a closing performance of the Ukrainian National Anthem, the statement said. Globe Correspondent, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2022 The continuo was judiciously realized by Michael Sponseller on harpsichord and Jacob Street on organ. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2022 Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra violinist and concertmaster Margaret Batjer leads members of the ensemble in Dmitry Sitkovetsky’s string arrangement of Bach’s highly mutable 1741 composition originally written for the harpsichord. Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2022 As proof, a radiant Andriessen harpsichord solo and a shimmering Lucier triangle solo showed up recently on programs at Disney. Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
modification of Italian arpicordo, from arpa harp + corda string
First Known Use
1611, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
harpsichord
noun
harp·si·chord ˈhärp-si-ˌkȯrd
: a keyboard instrument similar to a piano with strings that are plucked