uke

American  

[yook] / yuk /

noun

Informal.

1. ukulele.

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Etymology

Origin of uke

By shortening

Explanation

Uke is a common nickname for the ukulele, the stringed instrument that looks like a cheerful little guitar. The great thing about playing the uke is that you can bring it with you almost anywhere you go. The uke comes in four sizes and tones, ranging from soprano to baritone. The bigger the uke, the deeper and richer its sound. It's fairly easy to learn how to play a uke, so you might want to start a uke band with your friends or serenade your cat with Beatles tunes. To be an expert uke player, however, requires your fingers to move incredibly fast — which explains the name ukulele, "leaping flea" in Hawaiian.

Example Sentences

That uke is pivotal to “Rapstar’s” origin story.

From Slate • May 1, 2021

Rose was paired with Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational the next week and said he knew right away that Tiger’s T-2 finish at Valspar wasn’t a uke.

From Golf Digest • Jan. 2, 2019

She's since adopted the ukulele as her signature instrument - she even has her own, custom-made model from uke legends CF Martin & Company.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2017

At moments like those, it was easy to picture a boy sitting on the front stoop, strumming his uke without a care in the world.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2016

He hands the uke back to Pua, all casual.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila