Skip to content

'cello

A form of cello — A bowed bass instrument held between the knees.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPT Claude Perplexity Google AI Grok

Meanings

noun'cello (plural 'cellos or 'celli)

plural 'cellos · plural 'celli

alternativedatedAlternative form of cello (“string instrument”).
The composer appears to have envisaged players of varying degree of ability, and the first ‛cello gets the cream.
1930, The Musical Times, issue 71, page 126, column 2
1 more example
The Octet is a very brilliant composition for a double quartet, i. e. four violins, two violas, and two ‛celli, — a small symphony in fact.
1858 March 13th, Dwight’s Journal of Music (compiled book publication), volume XII, page 396

Origin

The apostrophe indicating that it is a clipping of violoncello.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with 'cello

hello cello mellow jello bellow portobello violoncello bordello relo sello bargello Pellow limoncello spello punchinello felloe Jell-O Sakartvelo saltarello scarpariello

Cite this entry

APA

'cello. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/'cello

MLA

“'cello.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/'cello. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “'cello,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/'cello.

Source: 'cello on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.