violin

American  

[vahy-uh-lin] / ˌvaɪ əˈlɪn /

noun

1. the treble instrument of the family of modern bowed instruments, held nearly horizontal by the player's arm with the lower part supported against the collarbone or shoulder.

2. a violinist or part for a violin.

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violin British  

/ ˌvaɪəˈlɪn /

noun

1. a bowed stringed instrument, the highest member of the violin family, consisting of a fingerboard, a hollow wooden body with waisted sides, and a sounding board connected to the back by means of a soundpost that also supports the bridge. It has two f-shaped sound holes cut in the belly. The instrument, noted for its fine and flexible tone, is the most important of the stringed instruments. It is held under the chin when played. Range: roughly three and a half octaves upwards from G below middle C

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violin Cultural  

1. The most familiar and highest-pitched instrument of the strings. A typical symphony orchestra has more than two dozen violinists.

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Etymology

Origin of violin

1570–80; < Italian violino, equivalent to viol ( a ) ( viola ¹ ) + -ino diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Clearwater said that during her tenure, she would often join her fellow performers onstage to sing backing vocals or play a violin solo.

From Los Angeles Times

Albert Einstein provides a famous example -- one of the most important physicists, who was also deeply engaged with music and played the violin from an early age.

From Science Daily

Across the street, there was once a home where twin girls played violin for their neighbors.

From Los Angeles Times

All of the 15 performers are highly skilled in their own artistic disciplines, but the boundaries are blurred—instrumentalists sing, singers play violins and percussion, and everyone commits vigorously to movement.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the opening seconds of lead single Berghain, violins are followed by a choir singing.

From BBC

Related Words

• fiddle