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 4¹/₂ 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

But so too does fiddle — not violin, fiddle — and piano. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025

For the album, he's backed by Americana favorites including Gabe Witcher on violin (Punch Brothers, Rosanne Cash), Sebastian Steinberg on bass (Fiona Apple, Phoebe Bridgers), and Charles De Castro on accordion and cornet (Keb' Mo'). —Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 15 Aug. 2025

Backed by violin, mandolin, upright bass, and drums, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter kneaded Americana and bluegrass into her own style. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025

As the narrator grappled with her inner turmoil, the music, a violin especially, teetered between elegant (in this context, denial) and anxious, sour notes that signaled an undeniable realization of an unpleasant truth. —Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 29 July 2025

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