Illustration of clarinet
clarinet
noun
clar·i·net ˌkler-ə-ˈnet 
ˌkla-rə-;
ˈkler-ə-nət,
ˈkla-rə-
: a single-reed woodwind instrument having a cylindrical tube with a moderately flared bell and a usual range from D below middle C upward for 3¹/₂ octaves
clarinetist noun
or clarinettist
ˌkler-ə-ˈne-tist
ˌkla-rə-
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web No description compares to the vibe, but imagine the clarinet player in your middle school orchestra trying to lay some funk on their big solo. 
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 Marsha Summers, a former clarinet player with a current freshman in the band, said being in the pit crew can also be a social occasion. Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Wilder began playing clarinet while in high school, and received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northwestern University in 1965 and a master’s in music from Northwestern in 1967. Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, 4 Apr. 2022 The ghost of Mühlfeld looms over any player tackling this music, as the clarinet has a special role in all of Brahms’ music. Lukas Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Nevertheless, the many solo instrumental passages, particularly Cole’s fanciful realization of Scheherazade’s seductive violin interjections and Burt Hara’s glorious clarinet ruminations, were individual triumphs. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 Dan Levinson, the youngest player on the project, channels the clarinet legend note for extravagant note, injecting his own vibrant personality into the transcriptions. Will Friedwald, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2022 The band is made up of Bert Stratton, clarinet; Alan Douglass, keyboards and vocals; Tamar Gray, vocals; Steven Greenman, violin; Steve Renko, drums; and Alice Stratton, dance leader. cleveland, 29 July 2022 For the parade setup, Prager said, seven played: violin, trombone, clarinet, trumpet, an electric piano, drums – and Prager on the tuba. Josh Susong, USA TODAY, 5 July 2022 See More
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2022 Marsha Summers, a former clarinet player with a current freshman in the band, said being in the pit crew can also be a social occasion. Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 Wilder began playing clarinet while in high school, and received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Northwestern University in 1965 and a master’s in music from Northwestern in 1967. Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, 4 Apr. 2022 The ghost of Mühlfeld looms over any player tackling this music, as the clarinet has a special role in all of Brahms’ music. Lukas Schulze, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Nevertheless, the many solo instrumental passages, particularly Cole’s fanciful realization of Scheherazade’s seductive violin interjections and Burt Hara’s glorious clarinet ruminations, were individual triumphs. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2022 Dan Levinson, the youngest player on the project, channels the clarinet legend note for extravagant note, injecting his own vibrant personality into the transcriptions. Will Friedwald, WSJ, 3 Aug. 2022 The band is made up of Bert Stratton, clarinet; Alan Douglass, keyboards and vocals; Tamar Gray, vocals; Steven Greenman, violin; Steve Renko, drums; and Alice Stratton, dance leader. cleveland, 29 July 2022 For the parade setup, Prager said, seven played: violin, trombone, clarinet, trumpet, an electric piano, drums – and Prager on the tuba. Josh Susong, USA TODAY, 5 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French clarinette, probably ultimately from Medieval Latin clarion-, clario
First Known Use
1733, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
clarinet
noun
clar·i·net ˌkler-ə-ˈnet
: a woodwind instrument with a single reed, a straight body formed like a tube, and keys