ENGLISH
REFERENCE

violin

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //vaɪəˈɫɪn// UK //vaɪəlˈɪn// vi·o·lin

n. a small wooden musical instrument with four strings that you hold under your chin. You play it by moving a special stick called a bow across the strings.

n. a wooden stringed instrument of the soprano range, typically having four strings tuned in perfect fifths and played with a horsehair bow.


SIMPLE

She practices the violin for an hour every morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The orchestra's lead musician stood up to play a beautiful solo on her antique violin.

COMPLEX

While the piano provides a harmonic foundation, the violin often carries the primary melody in a string quartet, requiring both technical precision and emotional expression from the performer.

Synonyms
Origin

From Italian violino (“little viola”), from viola + -ino (forming diminutives).

Usage

Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the instrument in a general or professional sense ('play the violin').

Idioms1 entry

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