cello

¹ American  

[chel-oh] / ˈtʃɛl oʊ /

noun

• cellos
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• cellist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cellos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cello¹

First recorded in 1875–80; short for violoncello

Origin of cello²

By shortening

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Explanation

A cello is a large, stringed musical instrument. A cellist has to sit in a chair to play a cello. One end of a cello rests on the floor as it's played, with the neck upright. The cellist forms notes with her fingers on the strings and pulls a bow across the body of the cello. Cellos are an important part of an orchestra, though they're often featured in contemporary popular music as well. The word is short for the Italian violincello, which ultimately comes from the Medieval Latin vitula, "stringed instrument."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cello cellos

Pedro Pascal learned to play the cello for his starring role in upcoming film "Behemoth!" from Oscar-winning writer-director Tony Gilroy.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

In the homey second movement, he carefully lays down his cello, picks up a music box and sits at the foot of the podium.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026

Their songs weave in Irish lilting, set against a lively mix of drums, fiddles, flutes, harps, banjos, cello and concertina - skills honed over years of playing house parties, pub céilís and traditional festivals.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

I was playing a cello solo from Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

This happens to be the first work ever written for pairs of violins, violas and cellos, as an expression of freedom that, in 1776, felt revolutionary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

Salonen paid tribute to Knussen with “Arabesques for Olly,” a haunting duet for cellos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

And if you hear trembling violins and thrumming cellos, you might lapse into a vision of storm-whipped waves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026

It could be said eight violins, four violas, four cellos, three trumpets, three trombones, two guitars, and a choir of fourteen women were what finally broke up The Beatles.

From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2024

The flute climbed again and plucked cellos sounded below and the sea crept in and in toward the beach.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

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