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

He didn’t care about Steven’s devotion to learning the cello.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

He asks his mother to run through the death scene with a different sequence of movements and introduces the accompaniment of George Crotty on cello to liberate her performance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 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

I reached with my left hand and caressed Adam’s head as if it were the scroll of my cello.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

The powerful choral scenes, with undulating figures in the violas and cellos, can recall Philip Glass and John Adams.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

She has created both a three-day “Jazz String Summit” in Chicago and a 15-piece Stringtet, of mostly violins, violas, cellos and basses.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026

They come out twice, for Viva La Vida and feelslikeimfallinginlove, twirling their cellos and jumping up and down as they provide the stirring string accompaniment.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025

The cellos were broad and sinuous, and the violins sighed and shone in big, roomy gestures.

From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 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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