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

Example Sentences

“He filmed those concerts from the ’70s that he wanted me to watch, with Albert King playing guitar and smoking a pipe onstage in rainy Stockholm.”

From Los Angeles Times

The band's first release since the departure of frontman Isaac Wood, it trades itchy, off-centre guitar riffs for a more soothing, baroque-pop sound, with lyrics that focus on friendship and camaraderie.

From BBC

But as a keen reader, guitar player and nature lover, he values the quietness.

From BBC

He’s in a guitar band, so there’s nothing electronic about what he’s doing.

From Los Angeles Times

In remission since 2021, he says his latest CT scan showed no trace of the cancer, making it especially poignant that Bridges is currently learning to play Leonard Cohen’s “Waiting for the Miracle” on guitar.

From Los Angeles Times