violin

noun

vi·​o·​lin ˌvī-ə-ˈlin 

: a bowed stringed instrument having four strings tuned at intervals of a fifth and a usual range from G below middle C upward for more than 4½ octaves and having a shallow body, shoulders at right angles to the neck, a fingerboard without frets, and a curved bridge

violinist

ˌvī-ə-ˈli-nist 

noun

violinistic

ˌvī-ə-lə-ˈni-stik 

adjective

Illustration of violin

• 1 bridge
• 2 sound hole
• 3 soundboard
• 4 fingerboard
• 5 pegs
• 6 scroll
• 7 tailpiece
• g G-string
• d D-string
• a A-string
• e E-string

Examples of violin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Photograph by Aaron Parsons Initially, Brittany Parks was defined primarily by her violin. —Jillian Steinhauer, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026

When a string section comes in, not even the more traditional sound of the violin parts can temper the unease. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2026

Sanders’s violin weaves his classical roots into the pulse of jazz improvisation. —Gina Grillo, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

Under a large white tent in the Rose Garden – RIP the Rose Garden – violins played as guests entered and the moon shone, First Lady Betty Ford wrote in a memoir. —Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian violino, from viola "viola, viol" + -ino, diminutive suffix, going back to Latin -īnus -ine entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1576, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for violin

• aneurin
• crystallin
• eosin
• mandolin
• porphyrin
• underpin
• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• chagrin
• deerskin
• foreskin

Kids Definition

violin

noun

vi·​o·​lin ˌvī-ə-ˈlin 

1

: a stringed musical instrument with four strings that is usually held against the shoulder under the chin and played with a bow

2

: violinist