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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
big band
noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ So big band parade's like this will no longer be possible.
▪ The evening will include a Bucks Fizz welcome, dinner, live big band, disco and cabaret.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
big band

Band \Band\ (b[a^]nd), n. [OE. band, bond, Icel. band; akin to G., Sw., & D. band, OHG. bant, Goth. bandi, Skr. bandha a binding, bandh to bind, for bhanda, bhandh, also to E. bend, bind. In sense 7, at least, it is fr. F. bande, from OHG. bant. [root]90. See Bind, v. t., and cf. Bend, Bond, 1st Bandy.]

  1. A fillet, strap, or any narrow ligament with which a thing is encircled, or fastened, or by which a number of things are tied, bound together, or confined; a fetter.

    Every one's bands were loosed.
    --Acts xvi. 26.

  2. (Arch.)

    1. A continuous tablet, stripe, or series of ornaments, as of carved foliage, of color, or of brickwork, etc.

    2. In Gothic architecture, the molding, or suite of moldings, which encircles the pillars and small shafts.

  3. That which serves as the means of union or connection between persons; a tie. ``To join in Hymen's bands.''
    --Shak.

  4. A linen collar or ruff worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.

  5. pl. Two strips of linen hanging from the neck in front as part of a clerical, legal, or academic dress.

  6. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on any article of dress, to bind, strengthen, ornament, or complete it. ``Band and gusset and seam.''
    --Hood.

  7. A company of persons united in any common design, especially a body of armed men.

    Troops of horsemen with his bands of foot.
    --Shak.

  8. A number of musicians who play together upon portable musical instruments, especially those making a loud sound, as certain wind instruments (trumpets, clarinets, etc.), and drums, or cymbals; as, a high school's marching band.

  9. (Bot.) A space between elevated lines or ribs, as of the fruits of umbelliferous plants.

  10. (Zo["o]l.) A stripe, streak, or other mark transverse to the axis of the body.

  11. (Mech.) A belt or strap.

  12. A bond. [Obs.] ``Thy oath and band.''
    --Shak.

  13. Pledge; security. [Obs.]
    --Spenser.

    Band saw, a saw in the form of an endless steel belt, with teeth on one edge, running over wheels.

    big band, a band that is the size of an orchestra, usually playing mostly jazz or swing music. The big band typically features both ensemble and solo playing, sometimes has a lead singer, and is often located in a night club where the patrons may dance to its music. The big bands were popular from the late 1920's to the 1940's. Contrasted with combo, which has fewer players.

big band

big band \big band\, A band that is the size of an orchestra, usually playing mostly jazz or swing music. The big band typically features both ensemble and solo playing, sometimes has a lead singer, and is often located in a night club where the patrons may dance to its music. The big bands were popular from the late 1920's to the 1940's. Contrasted with combo, which has fewer players.

Wiktionary
big band

n. A large dance or jazz band of 10 to 30 musicians usually featuring improvised solos by lead players, but otherwise playing orchestrated music.

WordNet
big band

n. a large dance or jazz band usually featuring improvised solos by lead musicians

Wikipedia
Big band

A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing Era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. Big Bands evolved with the times and continue to today. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The terms jazz band, jazz ensemble, stage band, jazz orchestra, and dance band are also used to refer to this type of ensemble. This does not, however, mean that each one of these names is technically correct for naming a 'big band" specifically.

In contrast to smaller jazz combos, in which most of the music is improvised, or created spontaneously, music played by big bands is highly " arranged", or prepared in advance and notated on sheet music. The music is traditionally called 'charts'. Improvised solos may be played only when called for by the arranger.

Big Band (album)

Big Band is a 1997 album by jazz saxophonist Joe Henderson, the fourth of the five albums he recorded with Verve Records during the end of his career.

Big Band (Charlie Parker album)

Big Band is a 1954 album by Charlie Parker of sides recorded in 1950 and 1952. In 1999 Big Band was reissued with bonus material and outtakes.

Usage examples of "big band".

It wouldn't do to get hit by a big band of those madmen without warning.

And then she had endured twenty years of big band cosmonautics, bureaucracy, simulations, an indoor life-all to get here.

And then she had endured twenty years of big band cosmonautics, bureaucracy, simulations, an indoor lifeall to get here.