Definition

A small musical instrument that looks like a lute, with a rounded body and a long neck, usually having four pairs of strings that are played by plucking.

Example

He played a beautiful melody on his mandolin during the concert.

Conversation

I just bought a new mandolin for my music collection.

That's awesome! Do you play it often?

I'm still learning, but I love how it sounds.

I bet it adds a nice touch to your songs.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mandolin → The word 'mandolin' comes from the Italian 'mandolino', which is a diminutive form of 'mandola', meaning a small mandola. The term 'mandola' itself is derived from the Latin 'mandola', which refers to a stringed instrument. Thus, 'mandolin' refers to a small stringed instrument.

Memory Tip

Think of the Italian word 'mandolino' meaning a small version of a stringed instrument, which helps you remember that a mandolin is a smaller stringed instrument.

Visually Confused Words