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

The La Jolla Music Society presents a concert by Gil and Orli Shaham on violin and piano, respectively, at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6, at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall, 7600 Fay Ave. —La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025

Two of the couple's mutual friends, AJ Rafael and Micah Hunter-Chang, played the wedding processional songs on keyboard and violin. —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025

The result ought to feel as ageless as a Stradivarius violin. —Graham Hillard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025

Average footballer gets incredibly rich from moving around: pass me the tiny violin. —Jack Lang, The Athletic, 9 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for violin

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• mandolin
• porphyrin
• underpin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin

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