guitar

[gi-tahr]

noun

1. a stringed musical instrument with a long, fretted neck, a flat, somewhat violinlike body, and typically six strings, which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.

guitar

/ ɡɪˈtɑː /

noun

1. music a plucked stringed instrument originating in Spain, usually having six strings, a flat sounding board with a circular sound hole in the centre, a flat back, and a fretted fingerboard. Range: more than three octaves upwards from E on the first leger line below the bass staff See also electric guitar bass guitar Hawaiian guitar

guitar

1. A stringed musical instrument (see strings) usually played by strumming or plucking. Guitars are widely used in folk music and, often amplified electronically, in country and western music and rock 'n' roll.

Other Word Forms

• guitar-like adjective
• guitarist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guitar¹

1615–25; < Spanish guitarra < Arabic kītārah ≪ Greek kithára kithara

Word History and Origins

Origin of guitar¹

C17: from Spanish guitarra, from Arabic qītār, from Greek kithara _cithara

Example Sentences

From the beginning, her style has always been instinctual; a freeform jam session where she sits at the piano or with her guitar and just lets her ideas flow out.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The 74-year-old taught herself to play piano and guitar as a child, writing her own songs by the age of 14.

Read more on BBC

Oliver summons his son by joyfully remembering his virtuosity on air guitar.

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Collins, who has been going to Old Trafford since he was growing up in the 1970s, once gave Gary Neville some guitar tips before the former United defender joined The Charlatans on stage.

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The band’s arresting sound was evident from their very first single, “Just What I Needed”: Synthesizer melodies and minimalist song structures combined with arena-ready guitar solos to create an unflappable New Wave blend.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal