viola

1 of 2

noun (1)

vi·​o·​la vī-ˈō-lə  vē-  ˈvī-ə- 

: violet sense 1a

especially : any of various garden hybrids with solitary white, yellow, or purple often variegated flowers resembling but smaller than typical pansies

viola

2 of 2

noun (2)

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə 

: a musical instrument of the violin family that is intermediate in size and compass between the violin and cello and is tuned a fifth below the violin

violist

vē-ˈō-list 

noun

Examples of viola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Because a small enough cello could not be found, his father taught him cello technique by using a viola. —Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

Late summer into early fall is a good time to plant cold-tolerant veggies like kale or collards, flowers like pansies or violas, as well as cover crops such as crimson clover or fava beans. —Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2025

Or how about a string trio—violin, viola, cello—same, same, same. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2025

Planted now, pansies and their little sisters, the violas, will flower all the way into mid-spring. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, borrowed from Latin, "violet" — more at violet

Noun (2)

borrowed from Italian, "viola, viol," borrowed from Old Occitan viola, viula "viol" — more at viol

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1786, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing viola

• viola da gamba
• viola d'amore

Rhymes for viola

• azolla
• canola
• cupola
• ebola
• fasciola
• granola
• victrola
• ayatollah
• variola
• bola
• cola
• colla

Kids Definition

viola

1 of 2 noun

vi·​o·​la vī-ˈō-lə  vē- 

: violet sense 1a

especially : any of various garden plants that have white, yellow, purple, or variously colored flowers and that resemble but are smaller than the related pansies

viola

2 of 2 noun

vi·​o·​la vē-ˈō-lə 

: a stringed musical instrument like a violin but slightly larger and lower in pitch