Definition

Noun: A musical instrument belonging to the lute family, characterized by a rounded body, a fretted neck, and typically eight metal strings arranged in four pairs (courses). It is commonly played by plucking or strumming the strings with a plectrum (pick).

Examples

• She practiced a beautiful folk tune on her mandolin.
• The bluegrass band featured a guitar, a banjo, a fiddle, and a mandolin.
• The sound of the mandolin added a bright, crisp texture to the music.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Cultural Context: The modern mandolin evolved from earlier lute-like instruments in 18th-century Italy. Different styles exist, such as the Neapolitan (bowl-back) mandolin and the flat-back mandolin common in American folk music.
• "Mandolin" as a culinary tool: In a completely different context, a "mandoline" (often spelled the same) is a kitchen utensil used for slicing vegetables. This is a homograph, not a meaning of the musical instrument.
  • Example: He used a mandoline to slice the potatoes thinly for the gratin.

Variants and Related Words

• Mandolinist (noun): A person who plays the mandolin.
  • Example: The famous mandolinist performed a concerto with the orchestra.

Synonyms

• Stringed instrument
• Lute-family instrument

Related Idioms or Phrases

• To pick/strum the mandolin: This describes the basic action of playing the instrument.
  • Example: He learned to pick the mandolin by watching online tutorials.

Noun

1. a stringed instrument related to the lute, usually played with a plectrum