violin

noun

vi·​o·​lin ˌvī-ə-ˈlin 

: a bowed stringed instrument having four strings tuned at intervals of a fifth and a usual range from G below middle C upward for more than 4¹/₂ octaves and having a shallow body, shoulders at right angles to the neck, a fingerboard without frets, and a curved bridge

violinist

ˌvī-ə-ˈli-nist 

noun

violinistic

ˌvī-ə-lə-ˈni-stik 

adjective

Illustration of violin

• 1 bridge
• 2 sound hole
• 3 soundboard
• 4 fingerboard
• 5 pegs
• 6 scroll
• 7 tailpiece
• g G-string
• d D-string
• a A-string
• e E-string

Examples of violin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Guest soloist Ray Chen will also join for Samuel Barber’s violin concerto. —Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024

As the band jammed through their set, fans danced to banjo, violin, acoustic guitar and pop drums, narrated by Dasha who gave personal anecdotes about what each song was about. —Matt Tighe, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024

Beginnings Also trained on the violin and trumpet, Lesh eventually earned second chair in California’s Oakland Symphony Orchestra while still a teen. —Dan Heching, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024

In the vestibule, Marisa Merz’s untitled fountain from 1997 spews water from a wax violin placed at the center of a lead basin. —Wilson Tarbox, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian violino, from viola "viola, viol" + -ino, diminutive suffix, going back to Latin -īnus -ine entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1576, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

violin

noun

vi·​o·​lin ˌvī-ə-ˈlin 

1

: a stringed musical instrument with four strings that is usually held against the shoulder under the chin and played with a bow

2

: violinist