noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ɡɪˈtɑː/
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ɡɪˈtɑɹ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-US:/ˈɡɪt.ɑɹ/
rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)
CMU ARPABET:G IH0 T AA1 R
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A stringed musical instrument, of European origin, usually with a fretted fingerboard and six strings, played with the fingers or a plectrum (guitar pick).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
Examples
Learning to strum the guitar rhythmically is essential.
She was carrying her guitar in a fancily-decorated case.
The band is looking for a new guitar player.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Any type of musical instrument of the lute family, characterized by a flat back, along with a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To play the guitar.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
a stringed instrument usually having six strings; played by strumming or plucking
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Etymology tree Ancient Greek κῐθᾰ́ρᾱ (kĭthắrā)bor. Aramaic קיתראbor. Arabic قِيثَارَة (qīṯāra)bor. Old Spanish guitarra Spanish guitarrabor. English guitar From Spanish guitarra, from Arabic قِيثَارَة (qīṯāra), from Ancient Greek κῐθᾰ́ρᾱ (kĭthắrā). Doublet of cithara, cither, and zither.
Across languages
Translations
139 source translations are retained for this English entry.
