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

The woodwinds dash in for a moment before the violin arrives, leaping across scales before the orchestra returns with a celebratory flair. —Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025

Still, the violin didn't make violinists obsolete. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025

The group sang Christian religious hymns accompanied by a wailing violin, cello and an acoustic guitar. —Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 10 Sep. 2025

The singer-songwriter blends her fierce and trusty violin with R&B, disco, soul, hip-hop, and house music, making something that feels funky, urgent, and infectious. —Matthew Schnipper, Vulture, 9 Sep. 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