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

In the next step, he transformed this collection of sounds into a musical composition to be played by two violins, a viola, and a cello.

From Science Daily

Rihannon Giddens plays on the “Cowboy Carter” single “Texas Hold ’Em,” but beyond the banjo and viola she contributed to the track, she lends the whole project a special kind of historical weight.

From New York Times

“It goes like this: Once upon a time, a Brazilian viola was buried in the riverbed. From that moment on, anyone who drank from the stream would become a poet.”

From New York Times

To that end, he has loaned musicians nine stringed instruments that he purchased — seven violins, one viola and one cello — by Italian master luthiers dating from 1686-1835.

From Seattle Times

Leonardo is in fact a virtuoso of the lyre, a sort of early viola.

From Literature