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• viola
  viola

  noun

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

  noun

  a female given name.

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  

/ 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 ² 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 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; see 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

See Examples For:

viola Viola

She finally gave up the viola only when her instrument was stolen from her apartment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

Berio, who was arguably the greatest 20th century Italian composer after Puccini, had a special feel for the viola as a solo instrument.

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

I'm playing viola less—it's been under the bed for days now—and I'm singing more.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

Viola Spolin, one of the great acting teachers of the 20th century, put it simply: “being part of the whole generates trust and frees the player for playing, the many then acting as one.”

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

Later, Viola Davis's character Lekan tells an older Zélie that she has been training her for years as she believes she can "bring magic back" to the area.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The Liuzzo family learned of Viola Liuzzo’s death in the middle of the night, after the local sheriff’s office called them with the news.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Viola Davis provides mellifluous narration; giving voice to Du Bois in the reading of his letters and literature are the rapper-activist Common and the actors Jeffrey Wright and Courtney B. Vance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

Gran sent Viola home to Wales, and the rest of my friends are scattered willy-nilly.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin