cello

noun

cel·​lo ˈche-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce cello (audio)
plural cellos also celli ˈche-lē How to pronounce cello (audio)
: the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the viola

Examples of cello in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The partners worked closely with the couple to ensure there was room for readings and concerts; storage for Char’s cello, violin, and piano and Neely-Cohen’s synthesizers and drum machines; and an elaborate house Char had built for her snowshoe cat, Detective. Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 22 Apr. 2025 On Blue Veil, the British composer coaxes earthy tremors from the cello, turning the sound of bow scrapes and resonant harmony into a languid psychic expanse. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 18 Apr. 2025 The band found a following but didn’t fully catch on, with Carol playing the keyboard because the cello apparently didn’t fit their sound. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025 Much of that owes to Jonny Greenwood’s score — its cello solos replacing the genre’s traditional guitar strings and sweeping orchestras — which gives the onscreen action an otherworldly feeling. Sezin Devi Keohler, EW.com, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cello

Word History

Etymology

short for violoncello

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cello was in 1855

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Cite this Entry

“Cello.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cello. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

cello

noun
cel·​lo ˈchel-ō How to pronounce cello (audio)
plural cellos
: a large musical instrument of the violin family that plays the bass or tenor part
Etymology

shortened form of violoncello

More from Merriam-Webster on cello

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