sound hole

noun

1. an opening in the soundboard of a musical stringed instrument, as a violin or lute, for increasing the soundboard's capacity for vibration.

sound hole

noun

1. any of variously shaped apertures in the sounding board of certain stringed instruments, such as the `f' shaped holes of a violin

Word History and Origins

Origin of sound hole¹

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

One of her eyes replaces the instrument’s sound hole — as if to suggest the possibility of a perception synthesized and expanded by love.

From Washington Post

Turning the tuning keys gently and slowly while keeping your other hand on the strings, over the sound hole, helps prevent string breakage.

From New York Times

Between takes, Adam would sometimes see Mas sticking his nose near its sound hole and inhaling deeply.

From New York Times

They took an upright piano and laid it on its back so the sound hole, a small hole that exposes the strings, was upright.

From The Verge

They looked inside its sound hole and shook it, hard.

From Literature