mandolin

noun

man·​do·​lin ˌman-də-ˈlin 

ˈman-də-lən

variants or less commonly mandoline

ˌman-də-ˈlēn 

ˈman-də-lən

1

: a musical instrument of the lute family that has a usually pear-shaped body and fretted neck and four to six pairs of strings

2

usually mandoline [French, from Italian mandolino mandolin] : a kitchen utensil with a blade for slicing and shredding

mandolinist

ˌman-də-ˈli-nist 

noun

Illustration of mandolin

• mandolin 1

Examples of mandolin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In college, a curiosity about the mandolin eventually led to a minor in bluegrass music. —Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025

Her soaring voice becomes the perfect vehicle to tell her story, sometimes backed by mandolins and plucky acoustic guitar. —Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 23 May 2024

Kenney enhanced the falsetto parts in the chorus with different instruments – a mandolin in the first chorus, electric guitar in the second – trailing the vocal and creating a dreamy mood. —Tom Roland, Billboard, 14 Jan. 2025

Using a mandolin or smart knife, cut 16 1/8-inch slices from the cucumber. —Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

mandolin

noun

man·​do·​lin ˌman-də-ˈlin 

ˈman-dᵊl-ən

variants also mandoline

ˌman-də-ˈlēn 

ˈman-dᵊl-ən

: a stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body and four to six pairs of strings played by plucking