viola
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)
- large genus of flowering herbs of temperate regionsSynonyms: genus ViolaType of dilleniid dicot genusMember of Violaceae, family Violaceae
- any of the numerous plants of the genus ViolaType of herb, herbaceous plantKinds pansy, violet, field pansy, wild pansy, horned violetMember of genus Viola
- a bowed stringed instrument slightly larger than a violin, tuned a fifth lowerType of bowed stringed instrument, string
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L., a violet. See Violet.
Botany A genus of polypetalous herbaceous plants, including all kinds of violets.
Origin: It. See Viol.
Music An instrument in form and use resembling the violin, but larger, and a fifth lower in compass.
Viola da braccio , the tenor viol, or viola, a fifth lower than the violin. Its part is written in the alto clef, hence it is sometimes called the alto. — Viola da gamba [It., viol for the leg], an instrument resembling the viola, but larger, and held between the knees. It is now rarely used. — Viola da spalla [It., viol for the shoulder], an instrument formerly used, resembling the viola, and intermediate in size between the viola and the viola da gamba. — Viola di amore [It., viol of love: cf. F. viole d'amour], a viol, larger than the viola, having catgut strings upon, and brass or steel wires under, the keyboard. These, sounding sympathetically with the strings, yield a peculiarly soft and silvery sound. It is now seldom used.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54
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(1994-11-30)