viola

¹

[ vee-oh-luh ]

noun

1. a four-stringed musical instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than the violin; a tenor or alto violin.
2. a labial organ stop of eight-foot or four-foot pitch, giving tones of a penetrating stringlike quality.

viola

²

[ vahy-oh-luh, vee-, vahy-uh- ]

noun

1. any plant of the genus Viola, especially a cultivated variety. Compare pansy ( def 1 ), violet ( defs 1, 2 ).
2. a pansy, V. cornuta, cultivated as a garden plant.

Viola

³

[ vahy-oh-luh, vee-, vahy-uh- ]

noun

1. a female given name.

viola

¹

/ ˈvaɪələ; vaɪˈəʊ- /

noun

1. any temperate perennial herbaceous plant of the violaceous genus Viola, the flowers of which have showy irregular petals, white, yellow, blue, or mauve in colour See also violet pansy

viola

²

/ vɪˈəʊlə /

noun

1. a bowed stringed instrument, the alto of the violin family; held beneath the chin when played. It is pitched and tuned an octave above the cello
2. any of various instruments of the viol family, such as the viola da gamba

viola

1. A musical instrument shaped like a violin but somewhat larger, lower pitched, and “darker” in tone. A viola player holds a viola like a violin , under the chin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of viola¹

1715–25; < Italian viola < Old Provençal viola; viol

Origin of viola²

1400–50; late Middle English: violet < Latin: violet

Word History and Origins

Origin of viola¹

C15: from Latin: violet

Origin of viola²

C18: from Italian viola, probably from Old Provençal viola, of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Latin vītulārī to rejoice

Example Sentences

He performed the role of Eliza Doolittle from Shaw's play Pygmalion, and the part of Cesario in Twelfth Night - not realising the part was female character Viola disguised in male clothing.

From BBC

She joined the Oxford Playhouse School of Theatre, debuting at 17 as Viola in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”

From Los Angeles Times

Crews have build a direct line north of Howard Creek and installed a secondary line through the park from Viola Mineral Road to Highway 89 to keep flames from moving deep into the forest.

From Los Angeles Times

I don't know if you saw today that the trailer came out with Viola Davis.

From Salon

I entered only because Bill Viola’s epic “Five Angels for the Millennium” was projected on five astonishing screens installed as high as 200 feet.

From Los Angeles Times