A very large brass musical instrument with a deep, low sound, often playing the bass line in bands and orchestras.
From Latin *tuba* “trumpet,” used in ancient Rome for a straight war trumpet. The modern bass instrument took the old name in the 19th century, even though its shape and pitch are very different.
The tuba is like the musical floorboards—if you took it away, the whole band would sound thin and floaty. Its name links it to ancient war trumpets, but now it mostly supports parades, orchestras, and occasionally very funny solos.
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