Definition

Noun: A bowed stringed instrument is a musical instrument from the chordophone family, characterized by having strings that produce sound primarily when vibrated by the action of a bow drawn across them. The bow is typically a wooden stick with a ribbon of horsehair or synthetic material under tension.

Usage

The term refers to the class of instruments played with a bow. It is a formal, descriptive term used in musicology and general description. * The violin, viola, cello, and double bass are all bowed stringed instruments. * The orchestra's section of bowed stringed instruments provides a rich, sustained foundation for the music.

Examples

• She is a master of the bowed stringed instrument, specializing in the viola.
• The exhibit featured historical bowed stringed instruments from around the world.
• The piece was written specifically for a quartet of bowed stringed instruments.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in contrast to "plucked stringed instruments" (like the guitar or harp) or "struck stringed instruments" (like the piano).
  • The composition interestingly blends sounds from bowed stringed instruments with those of plucked ones.

Variants and Related Words

• String instrument (n): The broader category that includes all instruments whose sound is produced by vibrating strings, whether bowed, plucked, or struck.
• Chordophone (n): The formal organological classification for any instrument that produces sound from vibrating strings.
• Fiddle (n): A colloquial term, often for the violin, especially in folk music contexts.

Synonyms

• String instrument (in the specific context of being played with a bow)
• Chordophone (when the playing method is specified or understood)

Related Phrases

• String section (n): The group of bowed stringed instruments (violins, violas, cellos, double basses) in an orchestra or band.
• Bowed strings (n): A common shorthand term used by musicians and composers to refer to these instruments collectively.
  • The arrangement calls for a lush background from the bowed strings.

Noun

1. stringed instruments that are played with a bow
   • the strings played superlatively well