Violoncello
/ˌvaɪələnˈtʃɛləʊ/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Synonym of cello.
"A tentative violoncello is playing, invisible and plaintive, then stops with an asthmatic scrape of catgut."
- 2 a large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing wordnet
Example
More examples"A tentative violoncello is playing, invisible and plaintive, then stops with an asthmatic scrape of catgut."
Etymology
A borrowing of Italian violoncello (“little violone”), from violone (“an early form of the double bass”) + -cello (“-elle”, forming diminutives), violone itself being derived from viola + -one (“-oon”, forming augmentatives).