bugler

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablemusic

   A musician who plays the bugle, a small brass instrument without valves, especially to give signals or at ceremonies.

   Grammar: A person noun: the bugler played at dawn.

   Patterns

   • a bugler in something

   A lone bugler played at the memorial service.

   The bugler sounded reveille to wake the camp.

   He trained as an army bugler before joining a band.

2. 2nouncountablemilitary

   A person whose role is to sound the day's calls on a bugle in a military or scouting setting.

   Grammar: Usually used with a unit: the company bugler.

   Patterns

   • the bugler of something

   The scout troop's bugler marked the end of the day.

   Each regiment once had its own bugler.

   The young bugler stood at attention beside the flag.

Word forms

Common combinations

army bugler

The army bugler played taps at the funeral.

lone bugler

A lone bugler stood on the hill at sunrise.

bugler plays

The bugler plays every evening at the cemetery.

ceremonial bugler

She works as a ceremonial bugler for national events.

Synonyms and how they differ

trumpeter

A trumpeter plays the trumpet, which has valves and a wider range, whereas a bugler plays the simpler bugle.

cornetist

A cornetist plays the cornet, which is closer to the trumpet and also has valves.

musician

Musician is general and does not name the instrument.

Word family

bugle noun

the instrument itself

bugle call noun

a signal played on a bugle

bugling noun

the sounding of a bugle

Commonly confused: bugler or burglar?

Practice

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