1. A small rattle or castanet used in music and dance, especially in ancient Greek and Roman performances.
Usage: historical; often used in plural form
2. A percussion instrument consisting of small metal or wooden discs that produce a clicking or rattling sound when shaken.
Usage: musical instrument

Examples

• Ancient dancers used crotales to keep rhythm during performances.
• The musician shook the crotales to add texture to the orchestral arrangement.
• Crotales were popular percussion instruments in classical antiquity.
• She clicked the crotales together in time with the music.
• The ensemble incorporated crotales to create an authentic period sound.