cello

play

noun cel·lo \ ˈche-(ˌ)lō \

Definition of cello

plural cellos also celli play \-lē\

:the bass member of the violin family tuned an octave below the viola

—

cellist

play \ˈche-list\ noun

See cello defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of cello from the Web

The North Carolina native, who grew up a Jehovah’s Witness, attended the North Carolina School for the Arts to study cello before dropping out after a year.

— julia noni, Teen Vogue, "We’re Calling It Now — These Are the Future ICONS You Need to Know," 23 Aug. 2017
The ensemble consists of Jasmine Lin, violin; Anthony Devroye, viola; Marina Hoover, cello; and Kuang-Hao Huang, piano.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Recommended Chicago-area classical concerts," 13 July 2017
One of the few cello metal bands in the world, Apocalyptica has sold more than four million albums worldwide.

— charlotteobserver, "Looking for something to do? Here’s our must-do list!," 27 June 2017
Church volunteers reached out and located a cello from a musician with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

— shari rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "Band plays music from countries named in Trump travel ban," 25 June 2017
A dark chord sounded faintly by two cellos and a bass slowly deflated and disappeared, leaving Michael Francis conducting, in the dark, to no one.

— christian hertzog, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mainly Mozart orchestra bids a fond, hilarious adieu in Haydn’s 'Farewell Symphony'," 25 June 2017
Music teachers showed children how to properly hold and play a variety of instruments, including a child-sized violin, cello, guitar, ukulele and tambourine and well as a full-size flute, keyboard, trumpet and trombone.

— denise linke, Aurora Beacon-News, "Geneva's Swedish Days visitors experiment with magnetism, electricity," 22 June 2017
But his cello solos — which often explore the wailing upper range of his instrument — also embrace the microtonal quality in Arabic music.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "At Painted Bride, a musical longing for the Damascus that was," 21 June 2017
His primary instrument is the western cello, which is in many ways the emotional center of an ensemble rounded out by pianist Julian Horner, bassist Dave Brodie, percussionist Hafez Javier Kotain, and drummer Doug Hirlinger.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "At Painted Bride, a musical longing for the Damascus that was," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cello.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cello

short for violoncello

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First Known Use: 1855

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CELLO Defined for English Language Learners

cello

play

noun

Definition of cello for English Language Learners

: a large musical instrument like a violin that is held between the player's knees while the player sits

CELLO Defined for Kids

cello

play

noun cel·lo \ ˈche-lō \

Definition of cello for Students

plural cellos

:a large stringed instrument of the violin family that plays the bass part

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See words that rhyme with cello Spanish Central: Translation of cello Nglish: Translation of cello for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cello

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cello

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cellist

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cello

Definition of cello for English Language Learners

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cello

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