violin

Everyday

1. A violin is a musical instrument made of wood with four strings, which you hold under your chin and play with a bow or by plucking. tree →
2. The violin also means the part a violinist plays in a band or orchestra («She plays first violin»). tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons the violin is part of the string family, with the viola, cello and double bass; it is the smallest and highest-sounding of them. In science it shows that sound is made by vibrations: shorter or tighter strings give a higher note. In everyday life children learn the violin in school music programmes and orchestras. Phrases: «play the violin», «violin lessons», «violin case», «a violin bow».

Examples

• My sister plays the violin in the school orchestra. tree →
• He practises the violin for twenty minutes every evening. tree →
• The violin has four strings. tree →
• You draw the bow across the strings to make a sound. tree →
• A violin is smaller than a cello. tree →
• She carried her violin in a black case. tree →
• The violin sounded sad and beautiful. tree →
• When you press a string down, the note gets higher. tree →
• When this was done, she called to a man who was waiting with a violin. tree →

Note

Countable: a violin, violins. Use «the» with instruments you play: «play the violin». A person who plays it is a violinist. A «fiddle» is the same instrument, used especially in folk and country music. The viola looks similar but is a little bigger and lower.