stringed instrument: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “stringed instrument” mean?
A musical instrument whose sound is primarily produced by the vibration of one or more stretched strings that are typically plucked, strummed, or played with a bow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A musical instrument whose sound is primarily produced by the vibration of one or more stretched strings that are typically plucked, strummed, or played with a bow.
In broader musicological contexts, the term can function as a hypernym for the entire category of chordophones, encompassing both Western and non-Western instruments (like the sitar or koto). It can also be used figuratively in literature to describe something that is 'played upon' or manipulated to produce a desired emotional effect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows regional norms for other words in the sentence.
Connotations
Identical technical connotation. In everyday use, 'string instrument' is slightly more common in the US, while 'stringed instrument' is equally standard in the UK.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in UK academic/formal texts. In both regions, the abbreviated form 'strings' (e.g., 'the string section') is more frequent in casual and orchestral contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “stringed instrument” in a Sentence
[Subject] + plays + [a/the] + stringed instrument.[A/The] + [adjective] + stringed instrument + [verb]...Stringed instruments + [plural verb]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stringed instrument” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A as a verb form.
American English
- N/A as a verb form.
adverb
British English
- N/A as an adverb form.
American English
- N/A as an adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The stringed-instrument repertoire is vast. (hyphenated compound adjective)
- She is a stringed-instrument specialist.
American English
- Stringed-instrument makers are called luthiers.
- The museum's stringed-instrument collection is impressive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in marketing for music shops or auction houses: 'We specialise in the sale of fine antique stringed instruments.'
Academic
Common in musicology, ethnomusicology, and history texts: 'The development of polyphony was closely linked to advancements in stringed instrument design.'
Everyday
Moderate. Used when distinguishing instrument families: 'Does the school orchestra need more players of stringed instruments?'
Technical
The standard term in instrument classification and organology. Used in instrument manuals, luthiery, and orchestration.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stringed instrument”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stringed instrument”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stringed instrument”
- Incorrect: 'He plays on a stringed instrument.' (Correct: 'He plays a stringed instrument.')
- Spelling: 'String instrument' (one word) is sometimes used, but 'stringed instrument' (two words) is the traditional form. Both are generally accepted.
- Using it for instruments where strings are not the primary sound source (e.g., a piano is a percussion instrument).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, technically it is not. Although a piano has strings, the sound is produced by hammers striking the strings, making it a percussion instrument in the standard Hornbostel-Sachs classification system.
They are essentially synonymous. 'Stringed' is a more traditional form, literally meaning 'furnished with strings'. 'String instrument' is slightly more modern and common in everyday American English, but both are perfectly correct and interchangeable.
A luthier. This term specifically refers to a craftsman who builds and repairs stringed instruments that have a neck and a sounding box, such as violins, guitars, and lutes.
Yes, absolutely. The term is a broad category in organology. Instruments like the Indian sitar, the Japanese koto, the West African kora, and the Middle Eastern oud are all classified as stringed instruments.
A musical instrument whose sound is primarily produced by the vibration of one or more stretched strings that are typically plucked, strummed, or played with a bow.
Stringed instrument is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Stringed instrument: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstrɪŋd ˈɪn.strə.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstrɪŋd ˈɪn.strə.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He played her like a finely tuned stringed instrument. (figurative: to manipulate someone's emotions skillfully)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a piece of STRING tied between two points on an INSTRUMENT case. The string is the key part that makes the music.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCES OF EMOTION ARE STRINGED INSTRUMENTS (e.g., 'He played on her fears', 'She tugged at his heartstrings').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically classified as a stringed instrument?