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 .

Derived Forms

• guiˈtar-ˌlike, adjective
• guiˈtarist, 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