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• viola
  viola

  noun

  a four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin.
• Viola
  Viola

  noun

  a female given name.

viola

¹ American  

[vee-oh-luh] / viˈoʊ lə /

noun

1. a four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin.

2. a labial organ stop of eight-foot or four-foot pitch, giving tones of a penetrating stringlike quality.

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viola ² American  

[vahy-oh-luh, vee-, vahy-uh-] / vaɪˈoʊ lə, vi-, ˈvaɪ ə- /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Viola, especially a cultivated variety.

2. a pansy, V. cornuta, cultivated as a garden plant.

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Viola ³ American  

[vahy-oh-luh, vee-, vahy-uh-] / vaɪˈoʊ lə, vi-, ˈvaɪ ə- /

noun

1. a female given name.

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viola ¹ British  

/ vɪˈəʊlə /

noun

1. a bowed stringed instrument, the alto of the violin family; held beneath the chin when played. It is pitched and tuned an octave above the cello

2. any of various instruments of the viol family, such as the viola da gamba

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viola ² British  

/ ˈvaɪələ, vaɪˈəʊ- /

noun

1. any temperate perennial herbaceous plant of the violaceous genus Viola, the flowers of which have showy irregular petals, white, yellow, blue, or mauve in colour See also violet pansy

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viola Cultural  

1. A musical instrument shaped like a violin but somewhat larger, lower pitched, and “darker” in tone. A viola player holds a viola like a violin, under the chin.

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Etymology

Origin of viola¹

1715–25; < Italian viola < Old Provençal viola; see viol

Origin of viola²

1400–50; late Middle English: violet < Latin: violet

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Explanation

A viola is a string instrument that's played with a bow. Along with violins and a cello, there's usually a viola in a string quartet. A viola is almost identical to a violin — it's just larger, with a slightly deeper, more mellow sound. Violas, like violins, are played by holding them beneath your chin, putting your fingers on the strings to form notes, and pulling the bow across them. The name comes from viol, a Renaissance instrument, which may stem from Vitula, the Roman goddess of joy. The flower known as a viola is more commonly called a violet.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

viola Viola

She finally gave up the viola only when her instrument was stolen from her apartment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Since leaving Kherson, she has not even taken her viola out of its case.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

The viola version is stunningly beautiful yet never recorded and remains practically unknown.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025

A few hermit crab species are quite valuable, such as the brightly colored blueberry hermit crabs and viola hermit crabs that live in Okinawa.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2025

They conduct the genome, thereby playing out its music—activating the viola at the fourteenth minute, a crash of cymbals during the arpeggio, a roll of drums at the crescendo.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Oscar-winning actresses Viola Davis and Ariana DeBose joined "Wicked" star Cynthia Erivo in the front row at the show, which took place on the eve of fashion week's official launch.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

The first is the $10 bill, depicting Black civil rights advocate Viola Desmond.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Viola Spolin, one of the great acting teachers of the 20th century, put it simply: “being part of the whole generates trust and frees the player for playing, the many then acting as one.”

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

The Liuzzo family learned of Viola Liuzzo’s death in the middle of the night, after the local sheriff’s office called them with the news.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

“We should keep on the road,” I say to Viola quietly.

From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness

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