noun
cello
CHEH-loh
noun
1
A large, deep-toned stringed instrument played upright with a bow, held between the knees.
"She has played the cello since she was seven."
"The piece opens with a haunting solo cello line."
How to Use Cello
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large stringed instrument, bigger than a violin but smaller than a double bass, played with a bow.
Common pairings
play the cello
cello solo
cello strings
Word Forms
cellos plural, celli plural
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Etymology
Shortened from violoncello, Italian for "little violone" (an early double bass) — so the name literally means "small big-viola."