cello

B2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈt͡ʃɛloʊ/ UK /ˈtʃɛləʊ/ See IPA manual

Freq #13643

Meanings

1

noun
A large wooden string instrument played with a bow while seated.

She has played the cello in the orchestra for ten years.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a large wooden string... violoncello

Word family

Forms cellos

Etymology

Clipping of violoncello, the original name, from Italian violoncello (“little violone”), from violone (“an early form of the double bass”) + -cello (“-elle”, forming diminutives), violone (“big viola”) itself being derived from viola + -one (“-oon”, forming augmentatives).

violoncello Italian

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# cello

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈt͡ʃɛloʊ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtʃɛləʊ/
**Frequency rank:** 13643

## Meanings
1. A large wooden string instrument played with a bow while seated.

## Examples
- She has played the cello in the orchestra for ten years.

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: violoncello

## Etymology
Clipping of violoncello, the original name, from Italian violoncello (“little violone”), from violone (“an early form of the double bass”) + -cello (“-elle”, forming diminutives), violone (“big viola”) itself being derived from viola + -one (“-oon”, forming augmentatives).

## AI Etymology
cello is a noun. It is a clipping of violoncello, the original name, from Italian violoncello (“little violone”), from violone (“an early form of the double bass”) + -cello (“-elle”, forming diminutives), violone (“big viola”) itself being derived from viola + -one (“-oon”, forming augmentatives). Historical forms in the chain include violoncello (Italian). Current senses include a large wooden string instrument played with a bow while seated.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

markdown