1. an electronic keyboard instrument that plays prerecorded tape loops of orchestral and other sounds when keys are pressed
Usage: music

Examples

• The Beatles used a mellotron on several songs in the late 1960s.
• The mellotron’s flute sound became iconic in progressive rock music.
• She played haunting string arrangements on the vintage mellotron.
• The band’s mellotron added an orchestral quality to their recordings.
• Many musicians preferred the mellotron’s organic sound over digital synthesizers.
• The mellotron tape loops would wear out after repeated use.