1
: a valved brass instrument resembling a trumpet in design and range but having a shorter partly conical tube and less brilliant tone
2
: something shaped like a cone: such as
a
: a piece of paper twisted for use as a container
b
: a cone-shaped pastry shell that is often filled with whipped cream
c
British
: an ice-cream cone
1
: the standard of a cavalry troop
2
a
: the onetime fifth grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop who carried the standard
b
: the onetime lowest commissioned rank in the U.S. cavalry
cor·net·ist
variants
or cornettist
(ˈ)kȯr-¦ne-tist
British usually ˈkȯr-ni-tist
plural -s
: a performer on the cornet
Did you know?
Like the trumpet, the cornet is a brass instrument with three valves, but its bore is somewhat more conical. Its range parallels that of the trumpet. It evolved in the 1820s, and its agility made it a very popular solo instrument. It often displaced the trumpet in 19th-century orchestras, and it preceded the trumpet in modern dance and jazz bands. Recent developments have made the two instruments very similar, and the cornet's popularity has waned considerably as a result.
Cite this Entry
“Cornet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornet. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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