cello

¹ American  

[chel-oh] / ˈtʃɛl oʊ /

noun

plural

cellos

1. the second largest member of the violin family, rested vertically on the floor between the performer's knees when being played.

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cello ² American  

[sel-oh] / ˈsɛl oʊ /

noun

Informal.

1. cellophane.

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cello British  

/ ˈtʃɛləʊ /

noun

1. Full name: violoncello.  music a bowed stringed instrument of the violin family. Range: more than four octaves upwards from C below the bass staff. It has four strings, is held between the knees, and has an extendible metal spike at the lower end, which acts as a support

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cello Cultural  

1. An instrument in the violin family, known for its rich tone. Among the strings, or stringed instruments, the cello has the second-lowest range, higher only than the bass viol, and it has the lowest part in string quartets. Cellists hold the instrument between their knees to play it. Cello is short for violoncello.

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Other Word Forms

• cellist noun

Etymology

Origin of cello¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for violoncello

Origin of cello²

By shortening

Example Sentences

Diana Burgess adds cello on the delicate “Round Corral” track.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Abdulmejid loved European culture, quoted French and German poetry, and played the cello, violin and piano.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Mulatu describes the masenqo as sounding exactly like a cello.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

Her daughter Ye-won, a cello instructor, had just celebrated her birthday and was due to return from a short holiday in Bangkok.

From Barron's • Dec. 23, 2025

He says I have bionic hands, that this is why I’m such a good cello player.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman