string quartet

American  

noun

1. a musical composition, usually in three or four movements, for four stringed instruments, typically two violins, viola, and cello.

2. a first violinist, second violinist, violist, and cellist forming a group for the performance of string quartets and similar music.

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string quartet British  

noun

1. an instrumental ensemble consisting of two violins, one viola, and one cello

2. a piece of music written for such a group, usually having the form and commonest features of a sonata

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string quartet Cultural  

1. A musical group that includes two violins, a viola, and a cello. The term also refers to a composition written for these four instruments. Many composers, notably Franz Josef Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, have written string quartets.

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Etymology

Origin of string quartet

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Rima Fand’s pleasant, folk-tinged score is illustrative rather than striking; the accompanying ensemble of mandolin, string quartet and bass, led from the piano by Mila Henry, plays a lot of ostinatos.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

Brahms wasn’t the first to juice up the string quartet with a second violin.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

It had been at Mills that violinist David Harrington, leader of Kronos, doggedly convinced a reluctant Riley to write a string quartet.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2025

And yet, the anchors had been doing their best version of trying to play a string quartet as the Titanic sank.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2025

I've had a great rehearsal, a beautiful Beethoven string quartet.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper