viola

¹ American  

[vee-oh-luh] / viˈoʊ lə /

noun

1. a four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin.

2. a labial organ stop of eight-foot or four-foot pitch, giving tones of a penetrating stringlike quality.

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viola ² American  

[vahy-oh-luh, vee-, vahy-uh-] / vaɪˈoʊ lə, vi-, ˈvaɪ ə- /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Viola, especially a cultivated variety.

2. a pansy, V. cornuta, cultivated as a garden plant.

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Viola ³ American  

[vahy-oh-luh, vee-, vahy-uh-] / vaɪˈoʊ lə, vi-, ˈvaɪ ə- /

noun

1. a female given name.

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viola ¹ British  

/ vɪˈəʊlə /

noun

1. a bowed stringed instrument, the alto of the violin family; held beneath the chin when played. It is pitched and tuned an octave above the cello

2. any of various instruments of the viol family, such as the viola da gamba

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viola ² British  

/ ˈvaɪələ, vaɪˈəʊ- /

noun

1. any temperate perennial herbaceous plant of the violaceous genus Viola, the flowers of which have showy irregular petals, white, yellow, blue, or mauve in colour See also violet pansy

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viola Cultural  

1. A musical instrument shaped like a violin but somewhat larger, lower pitched, and “darker” in tone. A viola player holds a viola like a violin, under the chin.

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Etymology

Origin of viola¹

1715–25; < Italian viola < Old Provençal viola; viol

Origin of viola²

1400–50; late Middle English: violet < Latin: violet

Explanation

A viola is a string instrument that's played with a bow. Along with violins and a cello, there's usually a viola in a string quartet. A viola is almost identical to a violin — it's just larger, with a slightly deeper, more mellow sound. Violas, like violins, are played by holding them beneath your chin, putting your fingers on the strings to form notes, and pulling the bow across them. The name comes from viol, a Renaissance instrument, which may stem from Vitula, the Roman goddess of joy. The flower known as a viola is more commonly called a violet.

Example Sentences

Since leaving Kherson, she has not even taken her viola out of its case.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Harpsichord and viola da gamba act as soloists as well as continuo; a modern lute song is a lullaby.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

“I didn’t choose the viola for its repertory,” Tamestit writes in the notes to the recording, “I chose it for its sound.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

A few hermit crab species are quite valuable, such as the brightly colored blueberry hermit crabs and viola hermit crabs that live in Okinawa.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2025

Thankfully, Papa still has his viola in his hand.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper