mandolin

[ man-dl-in, man-dl-in ]

/ ˈmæn dl ɪn, ˌmæn dlˈɪn /

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noun

a musical instrument with a pear-shaped wooden body and a fretted neck.

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Origin of mandolin

1700–10; <Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola, variant of mandora, alteration of pandorabandore

OTHER WORDS FROM mandolin

man·do·lin·ist, noun

Words nearby mandolin

mandioca, mandir, mandira, Man does not live by bread alone, mandola, mandolin, mandorla, mandragora, mandrake, mandrel, mandrill

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use mandolin in a sentence

Also on the list was mandolin-playing frontman Chris Thile of the band Nickel Creek.
Who Do Readers Blame for the Economic Slump? Everyone!|Ryan Prior|March 9, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The third type is the relatively recent paddle-style mandolin.
The Chef's Secret Weapon|Chad Ward|November 3, 2009|DAILY BEAST
And not only that, but Mr. Florance offered me a singing part in his new drama, if I could play the mandolin.
The Regent|E. Arnold Bennett
He laid the mandolin down on the ground, and began staring with a peculiarly sad expression at the dying fire.
Carmen|Prosper Merimee

After Mrs. Tellamantez died, Johnny abandoned his trade and went out with his mandolin to pick up a living for one.
Song of the Lark|Willa Cather
I would much rather play with this little baby (taking up a mandolin which she had dressed up in a table cover).
The Montessori Method|Maria Montessori
The cook had seated himself decorously and was holding the mandolin in position.
Atlantis|Gerhart Hauptmann

British Dictionary definitions for mandolin

mandolin

mandoline

/ (ˌmændəˈlɪn) /

noun

a plucked stringed instrument related to the lute, having four pairs of strings tuned in ascending fifths stretched over a small light body with a fretted fingerboard. It is usually played with a plectrum, long notes being sustained by the tremolo

a vegetable slicer consisting of a flat stainless-steel frame with adjustable cutting blades

Derived forms of mandolin

mandolinist, noun

Word Origin for mandolin

C18: via French from Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandora lute, ultimately from Greek pandoura musical instrument with three strings

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012