View synonyms for

music box

noun

a box or case containing an apparatus for producing music mechanically, as by means of a comblike steel plate with tuned teeth sounded by small pegs or pins in the surface of a revolving cylinder or disk.

music box

noun

a mechanical instrument that plays tunes by means of pins on a revolving cylinder striking the tuned teeth of a comblike metal plate, contained in a box

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Word History and Origins

Origin of music box¹

First recorded in 1765–75

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

René opens the music box, and a tinkling music begins to play, the same song heard long ago in his Damascus sitting room.

From

Our next stop was Culver City, where he gave me a music box that played “Edelweiss.”

From

There, in the Morris Museum’s collection of mechanical musical instruments and automata, is a music box from around 1877.

From

But the insistence on its importance — it shows up instrumentally, and in its vocal form, and even in a music box as a ballerina twirls around — struck me as a perfect précis for the film.

From

In the hidden area within the music box were ninety-two full glass bottles and eight empty ones.

From

musical saw music centre

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