ukulele

or u·ke·le·le

[ yoo-kuh-ley-lee; Hawaiian. oo-koo-ley-ley ]

/ ˌyu kəˈleɪ li; Hawaiian. ˌu kʊˈleɪ leɪ /

noun

a small, guitarlike musical instrument associated chiefly with Hawaiian music.

Nearby words

Origin of ukulele

1895–1900, Americanism; < Hawaiian ʿukulele leaping flea (ʿuku flea + lele to jump, leap), a nickname given to British army officer Edward Purvis (who popularized the instrument at the court of King Kalakaua), in reference to his lively playing style

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ukulele

Trainor brought along a ukulele to her audition and blew him away.
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit|Marlow Stern|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are few things cuter than a little kid killing it on the ukulele.
Lennon and Maisy Stella & More YouTube Musical Prodigies (Video)|Jake Heller|June 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
If it happens that any folk are down from the uptown hotels, Peter Pan consents to sell a ukulele between his encores.
Hints to Pilgrims|Charles Stephen Brooks
But Fulaanu lounged with her ukulele, surrounded by amorous sailors who gazed longingly into her eyes.
The Pacific Triangle|Sydney Greenbie

From within, through the open window, came the tinkling of Tom's ukulele and the rollicking lilt of his voice in an Hawaiian hula.
The Turtles of Tasman|Jack London
Returning home for a canned luncheon she discovered Gaylord humming a love song and strumming on his ukulele.
The Gorgeous Girl|Nalbro Bartley
Do you know this step—to the Paradise whistle and ukulele and that new instrument, the Shiverskin, it's just great.
Under the Law|Edwina Stanton Babcock

British Dictionary definitions for ukulele

ukulele

ukelele

/ (ˌjuːkəˈleɪlɪ) /

noun

a small four-stringed guitar, esp of Hawaii

Word Origin for ukulele

C19: from Hawaiian, literally: jumping flea, from `uku flea + lele jumping

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

Word Origin and History for ukulele

ukulele

1896, from Hawaiian 'ukulele, literally "leaping flea," from 'uku "louse, flea" + lele "to fly, jump, leap." So called from the rapid motion of the fingers in playing it. It developed from a Portuguese instrument introduced to the islands c.1879.

Culture definitions for ukulele

ukulele

[ (yooh-kuh-lay-lee) ]

A small guitar, developed in Hawaii, with four strings.