guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär 

gi-,

 especially Southern and Midland US also  ˈgi-ˌtär

: a flat-bodied stringed instrument with a long fretted neck and usually six strings played with a pick or with the fingers

guitarist

gə-ˈtär-ist 

gi-

noun

Illustration of guitar

• 1 electric
• 2 acoustic

Examples of guitar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Chalamet recorded over a dozen Dylan songs for the Complete Unknown soundtrack, and performed 40 songs live (with guitar and harmonica accompaniment, no less) during the shooting of the film. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 10 Jan. 2025

Chalamet sings around 40 Dylan songs in the film, while also playing guitar and harmonica. —Peter White, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025

Chalamet stars in the Bob Dylan biopic and does his own singing, guitar playing, and harmonica blowing and sucking. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Jan. 2025

Dallas Schoo, 71, has been in the business for 52 years and has served as the Edge’s guitar tech since U2 was playing clubs and ballrooms (he’s been moonlighting with Bruce Springsteen). —Tim Sommer, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French guitare, from Spanish guitarra, from Arabic qītār, from Greek kithara cithara

First Known Use

1668, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing guitar

• air guitar
• bottleneck guitar
• Hawaiian guitar
• lap steel guitar
• pedal steel guitar
• resonator guitar
• resophonic guitar
• steel guitar

Kids Definition

guitar

noun

gui·​tar gə-ˈtär 

: a stringed instrument with a flat body, a long neck with frets, and usually six strings that are played with the fingers or with a pick

guitarist

-əst 

noun

Etymology

from French guitare "guitar," derived from Arabic qītār (same meaning)