accordion

 
Pronunciation: /əˈkɔːdɪən/

noun

  • a musical instrument played by stretching and squeezing with the hands to work a central bellows that blows air over metal reeds, the melody and chords being sounded by buttons or keys: Compare with concertina. her five brothers and sisters were singing to the accompaniment of an accordion [as modifier]: an accordion player
  • [as modifier] folding like the bellows of an accordion: an accordion pleat

Derivatives

accordionist

noun

Origin:

mid 19th century: from German Akkordion, from Italian accordare 'to tune'