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

Newcastle is wild for homegrown guitar hero Sam Fender, and Liverpool can't get enough of female pop stars.

From BBC

Gemma said Morgan and Judith were "very close" with a shared a love for music, having both played the guitar: "She idolised him, he was her blue-eyed boy."

From BBC

Ripley began playing six years ago, starting with guitar and drums.

From BBC

"Thirty-five metal virtuosos. Thunderous guitars. Chaos with purpose," he said.

From Barron's

As he got older, Neville took up piano and guitar and started playing in bands, and eventually, making music films became a part of his life.

From Salon