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

His interest in music was immediate, starting out as a violin player before trading the string instrument in for a trumpet and studying the avant-garde classical and free jazz sounds that would later characterize his unique bass style with the Dead. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 25 Oct. 2024

He was encouraged to listen to classical music by his mother, and was originally a violin student. —Chris Morris, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

Dave Matthews offered a rare shout-out to his namesake band’s former violin player Boyd Tinsley as the Dave Matthews Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, years after Tinsley was removed from the group amid legal trouble. —Rachel Desantis, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024

Related Articles The music too was moving and bittersweet, with a heart-rending violin rendition as guests settled into their seats at the Imperial hotel, a rare location for a fashion event, with its history of elegance located on Janpath, in the heart of the city. —Mayu Saini, WWD, 16 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