celesta
noun
ce·les·ta sə-ˈle-stə 
chə-
variants or celeste
sə-ˈlest
chə-
: a keyboard instrument with hammers that strike steel plates producing a tone similar to that of a glockenspiel
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The opera leans heavily on this orchestra’s storied opulent strings, as well as on its characterful winds and brasses, and precision at a large battery of percussion instruments (including a celesta, used frequently, in a cliché of dreaminess). 
New York Times, 20 Mar. 2022 Where the Velvets’ original got its druggy cool from John Cale’s celesta arpeggios and Sterling Morrison’s undulating bass, Stipe sings serenely over long, sustained notes, shimmering synths, and Willner’s strings. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2021 In Berio’s passages, eerie, atmospheric effects from the celesta and violins, noodlings and trills in the winds and thorny rhythmic interplay figure prominently. Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 16 Apr. 2021 The ending, gently caressed by winds, horn and strings, with tinkling celesta, was magical. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 10 Oct. 2020 The Sugarplum Fairy, here called Sugar Rum Cherry, dances to a slow, cheeky, boom-chicka-boom number, decidedly naughtier than Tchaikovsky’s tinkling melody for the celesta. New York Times, 16 Dec. 2019 The notes were few, as a large orchestra thinned to the tinkle of harp, mandolin and celesta littering soft, ethereal drones in the select strings and winds. Mark Swed, latimes.com, 6 Apr. 2018 They were joined by violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, cellist Julie Albers, and pianist Roman Rabinovich, who also played celesta. Special To The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com, 30 June 2017 See More
New York Times, 20 Mar. 2022 Where the Velvets’ original got its druggy cool from John Cale’s celesta arpeggios and Sterling Morrison’s undulating bass, Stipe sings serenely over long, sustained notes, shimmering synths, and Willner’s strings. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2021 In Berio’s passages, eerie, atmospheric effects from the celesta and violins, noodlings and trills in the winds and thorny rhythmic interplay figure prominently. Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 16 Apr. 2021 The ending, gently caressed by winds, horn and strings, with tinkling celesta, was magical. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 10 Oct. 2020 The Sugarplum Fairy, here called Sugar Rum Cherry, dances to a slow, cheeky, boom-chicka-boom number, decidedly naughtier than Tchaikovsky’s tinkling melody for the celesta. New York Times, 16 Dec. 2019 The notes were few, as a large orchestra thinned to the tinkle of harp, mandolin and celesta littering soft, ethereal drones in the select strings and winds. Mark Swed, latimes.com, 6 Apr. 2018 They were joined by violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, cellist Julie Albers, and pianist Roman Rabinovich, who also played celesta. Special To The Plain Dealer, cleveland.com, 30 June 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
French célesta, alteration of céleste, literally, heavenly, from Latin caelestis
First Known Use
1896, in the meaning defined above