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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

A giant guitar sculpture dominates the central square, guitar murals adorn walls and pavements and even the rubbish bins are shaped like guitars.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

From there it opens up, like a flower bud warming to summer, with acoustic guitar strumming, a gentle rhythm section and a gospel choir echoing with otherworldly lightness.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

He has even played guitar as former Undertones front man Feargal Sharkey performed their greatest hit, Teenage Kicks.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

Spurred by repeat viewings of The Lion King and Pocahontas, she pursued musical theater and learned guitar and piano.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

His guitar was hanging from a strap around his shoulder.

From "Wolfie & Fly" by Cary Fagan

“It has none of those elements one sees so often: festivals of wrought iron, little Juliet balconies, guitars strumming in every corner,” he recalled in his 1998 interview.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

A giant guitar sculpture dominates the central square, guitar murals adorn walls and pavements and even the rubbish bins are shaped like guitars.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

Diles reclines comfortably on the instrumental configuration that makes so many rock bands sing: acoustic and electric guitars, bass, and the cool, angular drumming of Raúl Ponce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

"I can't be dizzy carrying around banjos, guitars and such on 5-inch heels - and you know that I'm going to be wearing them," she said in a video message.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Then the guitars came back in, and they had to really show off.

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel