0 (of a musical instrument with strings, such as a guitar) having small raised metal bars across the long, thin part, that show you where to put your fingers on the strings in order to produce different notes: --
There were six pairs of metal strings running over a fretted fingerboard.
Guitars and lutes are fretted musical instruments.
1 (of a hard material such as wood or metal) decorated with a pattern cut into it: --
The radio was made of light wood with two large circular openings, one with a fretted front, the other fitted with a dial.
It is a colonial-style mansion with a fretted wood balcony on the side.
The large lute had six strings above a fretted fingerboard.
They produce classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos.
The bass viol has a fretted neck and comparatively loose stringing.