Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

viola

noun vi·o·la \ vī-ˈō-lə , vē- ; ˈvī-ə- \

Definition of viola

: violet 1a; especially : any of various garden hybrids with solitary white, yellow, or purple often variegated flowers resembling but smaller than typical pansies

Origin and Etymology of viola

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

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

2

viola

noun vi·o·la \ vē-ˈō-lə \

Definition of viola

: 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

play \-list\ noun

Origin and Etymology of viola

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

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, refrain, riff, segue

VIOLA Defined for Kids

1

viola

noun vi·o·la \ vī-ˈō-lə , vē- \

Definition of viola for Students

: a garden plant that looks like but is smaller than a pansy
2

viola

noun vi·o·la \ vē-ˈō-lə \

Definition of viola for Students

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

Learn More about viola

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up viola? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

paste

play

to beat or defeat soundly

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. ideologue 'an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology'

  2. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  3. uphold 'to let stand'

  4. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  5. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

viola

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games