guitar

American  

[gi-tahr] / gɪˈtɑr /

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.

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guitar British  

/ 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

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guitar Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• guitar-like adjective
• guitarist noun

Etymology

Origin of guitar

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

Example Sentences

The guitar sold to an unnamed buyer after 21 minutes of bidding, as part of a rock memorabilia auction in New York on Thursday.

From BBC

Insider info: Miles Caton sung alongside the musician H.E.R. before being cast as blues prodigy Preacher Boy, but he had to learn to master the guitar for the role.

From The Wall Street Journal

Moss received a bite to his middle finger that became "severely infected and badly swollen, rendering him unable to play guitar".

From BBC

The Mexican American singer got her start in mariachi, eventually learning piano, guitar, violin and vihuela.

From Los Angeles Times

Horner-Hughes-Seed said: "We sing the song to him all the time, and he's a big fan of guitars, so he's just waiting for that guitar."

From BBC