sound hole

noun

1. an opening in the soundboard of a musical stringed instrument, as a violin or lute, for increasing the soundboard's capacity for vibration.

sound hole

noun

1. any of variously shaped apertures in the sounding board of certain stringed instruments, such as the `f' shaped holes of a violin

Word History and Origins

Origin of sound hole¹

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

One of her eyes replaces the instrument’s sound hole — as if to suggest the possibility of a perception synthesized and expanded by love.

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Turning the tuning keys gently and slowly while keeping your other hand on the strings, over the sound hole, helps prevent string breakage.

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Between takes, Adam would sometimes see Mas sticking his nose near its sound hole and inhaling deeply.

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They took an upright piano and laid it on its back so the sound hole, a small hole that exposes the strings, was upright.

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They looked inside its sound hole and shook it, hard.

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