guitar

American  

[gi-tahr] / gɪˈtɑr /

noun

guitars plural

1. a stringed musical instrument with a long, fretted neck, a flat, somewhat violinlike body, and typically six strings, which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.

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guitar British  

/ ɡɪˈtɑː /

noun

1. music a plucked stringed instrument originating in Spain, usually having six strings, a flat sounding board with a circular sound hole in the centre, a flat back, and a fretted fingerboard. Range: more than three octaves upwards from E on the first leger line below the bass staff See also electric guitar bass guitar Hawaiian guitar

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guitar Cultural  

1. A stringed musical instrument (see strings) usually played by strumming or plucking. Guitars are widely used in folk music and, often amplified electronically, in country and western music and rock 'n' roll.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• guitarist
  noun
• guitar-like
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• guitars
  plural

Etymology

Origin of guitar

1615–25; < Spanish guitarra < Arabic kītārah ≪ Greek kithára kithara

Explanation

A guitar is a musical instrument with a long neck and strings. When you play the guitar, you press the strings with one hand to make a note, and strum with the other hand (unless, of course, you are playing air guitar). The section of a guitar where your fingers form a note is called the "fingerboard." An acoustic guitar has a hollow body that vibrates with warm sound when you pluck or strum the strings, and an electric guitar is solid and plugs into an amplifier that projects the sound. The word guitar comes from the Spanish guitarra, which has its roots in the Greek kithara, a lyre-like stringed instrument.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

guitar guitars

For the first 30 seconds, Charli simply repeats the phrase, "I don't wanna," over and over while a guitar chugs in the background.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Alone on guitar, Mr. Richman sings effusively on “Springtime” about the season’s spiritual impact.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

I grabbed a guitar and finished it in two hours.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

But when he observed it swirling rapidly rather than spreading out as dry ice would, he dropped his guitar, jumped off stage and started running.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

It may also include a piano and/or other keyboard players, more percussionists, and one or more guitar players or other strummed or plucked strings.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

The rhythm section of bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Watts locks in, while Richards and Wood converse with their guitars as only they can.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

“It’s just that I needed more space. So I made a few guitars that widened the headboard” to give his fingers additional room to work.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

I groaned as strumming Spanish guitars played underneath a cheerful introduction welcoming me to the “Jewel of the Missions” — a slogan that boosters coined decades ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026

Johnny Marr has more than 100 guitars - and he says the auction will be 'emotional' but 'cathartic'

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

Jim and Roger followed behind him, strumming their guitars.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez