0 a wooden musical instrument with four strings, that is held vertically between the legs and is played by moving a bow across the strings:
My girlfriend plays the cello.
1 a large, wooden musical instrument with four strings which a player rests on the floor, holding it between the legs while sitting, and plays with a bow (= stick with hairs attached to it), or this type of instrument generally
My daughter is taking up the cello.
Their albums feature instruments from cello and pedal steel guitar to harmonica.
Jacqueline du Pré's recordings of the Cello Concerto
Besides making violins, this eminent artist also made guitars, lutes, 'cellos and tenors.
His wife was a fine pianist, he himself a first-rate performer on the cello.
She has also written pieces for violin, 'cello, voice, and piano.
