Word Study
guitar
CIDE DICTIONARY
guitar, n. [F. guitare; cf. Pr., Sp., & Pg.guitarra, It. chitarra; all fr. Gr. ; cf. L. cithara. Cf. Cittern, Gittern.].
A stringed instrument of music resembling the lute or the violin, but larger, and having six strings, three of silk covered with silver wire, and three of catgut, -- played upon with the fingers. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
guitar, n. a usu. six-stringed musical instrument with a fretted finger-board, played by plucking with the fingers or a plectrum.
Derivative
guitarist n.
Etymology
Sp. guitarra (partly through F guitare) f. Gk kithara: see CITTERN, GITTERN
THESAURUS
guitar
Dobro guitar, F-hole guitar, Spanish guitar, archlute, balalaika, banjo, banjo-uke, banjo-ukulele, banjo-zither, banjorine, banjuke, bass guitar, centerhole guitar, concert guitar, electric guitar, lute, mando-bass, mando-cello, mandola, mandolin, mandolute, mandore, oud, pandora, pandura, samisen, sitar, steel guitar, tamboura, theorbo, troubadour fiddle, uke, ukuleleROGET THESAURUS
guitar
Musical Instruments
N musical instruments, band, string-band, brass-band, orchestra, orchestrina, monochord, polychord, harp, lyre, lute, archlute, mandola, mandolin, mandoline, guitar, zither, cither, cithern, gittern, rebeck, bandurria, bandura, banjo, bina, vina, xanorphica, viol, violin, fiddle, kit, viola, viola d'amore, viola di gamba, tenor, cremona, violoncello, bass, bass viol, base viol, theorbo, double base, contrabasso, violone, psaltery, bow, fiddlestick, piano, pianoforte, harpsichord, clavichord, clarichord, manichord, clavier, spinet, virginals, dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, vielle, pianino, Eolian harp, organ, harmonium, harmoniphon, American organ, barrel organ, hand organ, accordion, seraphina, concertina, humming top, flute, fife, piccolo, flageolet, clarinet, claronet, basset horn, corno di bassetto, oboe, hautboy, cor Anglais, corno Inglese, bassoon, double bassoon, contrafagotto, serpent, bass clarinet, bagpipes, union pipes, musette, ocarina, Pandean pipes, reed instrument, sirene, pipe, pitch-pipe, sourdet, whistle, catcall, doodlesack, harmoniphone, horn, bugle, cornet, cornet-a-pistons, cornopean, clarion, trumpet, trombone, ophicleide, French horn, saxophone, sax, buglehorn, saxhorn, flugelhorn, althorn, helicanhorn, posthorn, sackbut, euphonium, bombardon tuba, cymbal, bell, gong, tambour, tambourine, tamborine, drum, tom-tom, tabor, tabret, tabourine, taborin, side drum, kettle drum, timpani, tympani, tymbal, timbrel, castanet, bones, musical glasses, musical stones, harmonica, sounding-board, rattle, tam-tam, zambomba, reed, tuning fork, triangle, Jew's harp, musical box, harmonicon, xylophone, sordine, sordet, sourdine, sourdet, mute, (iv) PERCEPTION OF SOUND.For further exploring for "guitar" in Webster Dictionary Online