plectrum

American  

[plek-truhm] / ˈplɛk trəm /

noun

plural

plectra, plectrums

1. a small piece of plastic, metal, ivory, etc., for plucking the strings of a guitar, lyre, mandolin, etc.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. an anatomical part resembling a plectrum in shape.

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plectrum British  

/ ˈplɛktrəm /

noun

1. any implement for plucking a string, such as a small piece of plastic, wood, etc, used to strum a guitar, or the quill that plucks the string of a harpsichord

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Etymology

Origin of plectrum

1620–30; < Latin plēctrum < Greek plêktron

Example Sentences

I picked up a plectrum we kept on a nearby cabinet and plucked at the strings.

From Literature

"I was always very clumsy with a plectrum," they say.

From BBC

“There were certain songs on the guitar I just couldn’t play, and my plectrum was getting stuck in the strings, so that was a bit of a red flag,” he says.

From BBC

In the BBC interview, the singer-songwriter said he first suspected something wasn't right when he began having trouble grasping his guitar plectrum.

From BBC

Bobby Zamora came on recently and I have actually got a plectrum signed by him now - I can tell you that is officially the only one in existence.

From BBC