mandolin

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

noun

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

mandolin

/ ˌmændəˈlɪn /

noun

1. 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
2. a vegetable slicer consisting of a flat stainless-steel frame with adjustable cutting blades

Derived Forms

• ˌmandoˈlinist, noun

Other Words From

• mando·linist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandolin¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mandolin¹

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

Example Sentences

Like Sarah Jarosz, on this record in particular I wanted to get a mandolin player and I wanted Sarah to play mandolin.

From Washington Blade

Listening to the “chop” of the mandolin reinforced to me how good the transient response of these speakers is.

From Popular-Science

His newest solo album “Laysongs” is composed of only Thile’s vocals and mandolin, a kind of “secular music in a sacred context,” Thile says.

From Washington Post

Dacus referred to her as a "guitar wizard," noting that Baker schleps around a giant pedalboard and played most of the other instruments on the Boygenius record — keyboard, mandolin, you name it.

From Washington Post

Also on the list was mandolin-playing frontman Chris Thile of the band Nickel Creek.

From The Daily Beast

The third type is the relatively recent paddle-style mandolin.

From The Daily Beast

And not only that, but Mr. Florance offered me a singing part in his new drama, if I could play the mandolin.

From Project Gutenberg

He laid the mandolin down on the ground, and began staring with a peculiarly sad expression at the dying fire.

From Project Gutenberg

After Mrs. Tellamantez died, Johnny abandoned his trade and went out with his mandolin to pick up a living for one.

From Project Gutenberg

I would much rather play with this little baby (taking up a mandolin which she had dressed up in a table cover).

From Project Gutenberg

The cook had seated himself decorously and was holding the mandolin in position.

From Project Gutenberg