marimba

noun

ma·​rim·​ba mə-ˈrim-bə How to pronounce marimba (audio)
: a xylophone of southern Africa and Central America with resonators beneath each bar
also : a modern form of this instrument
marimbist noun

Examples of marimba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Son Rompe Pera Centered on the hollow tunes of the marimba, Son Rompe Pera brings the rebellious spirit of punk to the Afro-Indigenous beats of cumbia. Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024 Featuring marimba and sounds from Colombia’s rich Pacific coast, and inspired by ancestral chants from the area, this beautiful ode to the environment invites you to immerse yourself in the sounds of the mangroves and the depths of nature. Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 26 July 2024 The cocktail hour’s soundtrack was a mariachi band, Los Campos, and loads of tinkling marimba by Tono 13. Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2024 So is the inclusion of Son Rompe Pera, the Mexico City band that uses a marimba as its lead instrument while fusing Colombian cumbia music with punk, garage-rock and Jamaican ska. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for marimba 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'marimba.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

of Bantu origin; akin to Kimbundu marimba xylophone

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of marimba was in 1704

Dictionary Entries Near marimba

Cite this Entry

“Marimba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marimba. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

marimba

noun
ma·​rim·​ba mə-ˈrim-bə How to pronounce marimba (audio)
: a musical instrument resembling a xylophone but with tubes under each bar to help increase the sound

More from Merriam-Webster on marimba

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