mandoline
Definition
- Noun:
- A musical instrument: "Mandoline" is a stringed musical instrument with a pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and typically four or five pairs of strings (courses) played with a plectrum. It is common in folk and classical music, especially Italian traditions.
Usage Examples
- (She performed a piece using the stringed instrument.)
- (He adjusted the pitches of the instrument's double strings.)
Advanced Usage
- "Mandoline" is sometimes used interchangeably with "mandolin" (the more common spelling), but "mandoline" specifically refers to the instrument with a slightly different design, often featuring a flat back or a more pronounced bowl shape.
- The antique mandoline in the museum had a carved ivory bridge. (The historical instrument displayed a unique structural detail.)
Variants and Related Words
Mandolin (n): an alternative spelling of "mandoline", more widely used in modern contexts.
- He prefers the term "mandolin" for his classical instrument. (He uses the standard spelling.)
Mandolinist (n): a person who plays the mandoline or mandolin.
- The mandolinist performed a complex solo piece. (The player demonstrated skill on the instrument.)
Synonyms
- Lute: a similar early stringed instrument, though larger and with a different shape.
- Bouzouki: a Greek stringed instrument with a similar playing technique but a longer neck.
Related Idioms
- No specific idioms are associated with "mandoline" as a word, but the instrument appears in musical idioms like "to strum the mandoline" meaning to play casually.
- He would strum the mandoline by the fire. (He played the instrument in a relaxed manner.)