I. ˈkäntrəˌbās noun
( -es )
Etymology: obsolete Italian contrabasso (now contrabbasso ), from contra- + basso — more at basso
: the largest instrument of the viol family having usually four strings tuned in fourths and a range of about three octaves — called also bass, bass fiddle, bull fiddle, double bass, string bass
II. adjective
: pitched an octave below the normal bass instrumental or vocal range