xylophoneEnglishOxford Dictionary of Englishxylophone /ˈzʌɪləfəʊn / ▸ noun a musical instrument played by striking a row of wooden bars of graduated length with one or more small wooden or plastic beaters. – DERIVATIVES xylophonic /zʌɪləˈfɒnɪk/ adjective xylophonist noun– ORIGIN mid 19th century: from xylo- ‘of wood’ + -phone.