tamboura

noun

tam·​bou·​ra tam-ˈbu̇r-ə How to pronounce tamboura (audio)
variants or tambura
: an Asian musical instrument resembling a lute in construction but without frets and used to produce a drone accompaniment to singing

Examples of tamboura in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As a singer and player of the Indian tamboura, and later a disciple of the Indian classical singer Pandit Pran Nath, Ms. Zazeela performed with her husband in hundreds of concerts. Walker Mimms, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024 With the lyrics mostly in place, the music came largely from Harrison's fascination with Indian compositions, which made use of long tamboura drones. Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2022 Then the two improvised for twenty minutes or so over an Indian tamboura drone. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2021 And there were instruments galore: Harpsichords, tamboura, Mellotron, harmonium, woodwinds, and a variety of guitars, pianos, and tambourines. William Goodman, Billboard, 26 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Persian ṭambūra

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamboura was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near tamboura

Cite this Entry

“Tamboura.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamboura. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tamboura

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!