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

On his YouTube channel, which has 175,000 subscribers, the musician has performed violin versions of hits by Major Lazer and DJ Snake, Imagine Dragons, Sam Smith and Kim Petras, and Kate Bush, among others. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026

She was listed as the third violin soloist to play at the legendary concert venue’s Weill Recital Hall. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025

Braimah, now 28, picked up the violin. —Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025

Across the album, Collins plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, and banjo. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 18 Dec. 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