koto

American  

[koh-toh, kaw-taw] / ˈkoʊ toʊ, ˈkɔˈtɔ /

noun

kotos, plural koto plural

1. a Japanese musical instrument having numerous strings, usually seven or thirteen, that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are plucked with three plectra, worn on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of one hand.

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koto British  

/ ˈkəʊtəʊ /

noun

1. a Japanese stringed instrument, consisting of a rectangular wooden body over which are stretched silk strings, which are plucked with plectrums or a nail-like device

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• koto
  plural
• kotos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of koto

Borrowed into English from Japanese around 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

koto kotos

They wanted all their components, from June’s koto to Dan’s saxophone, to stand out yet be a part of the whole.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2022

This is a series of, of all things, trombone and koto duets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2020

Featuring the koto, bells, flutes and other instruments, the nearly two-hour-long composition is deceptively peaceful — kind of like the virus itself.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 10, 2020

The septet includes Craig Taborn on piano, Miya Masaoka on koto, Sam Pluta on electronics, Peter Evans on trumpet and piccolo trumpet, Ms. Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey on drums, and Dan Peck on tuba.

From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2016

Other instruments of music are the koto, the tsuzumi and the drum.

From A Japanese Boy by Shiukichi, Shigemi

Therefore kotos does not bide its time for taking vengeance, but in course of time spends itself.

From Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) From the Complete American Edition by Thomas, Aquinas, Saint