viola
viola Lexical Profile
viola Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A bowed stringed instrument of the violin family, slightly larger than a violin and tuned a perfect fifth lower, known for its rich, warm alto range.
"A traditional classical string quartet is composed of two violins, one viola, and one cello."
A plant of the genus Viola, which includes pansies and violets, typically characterized by five-petaled asymmetrical flowers and often grown for ornamental garden use.
"She planted a colorful border of violas along the walkway to bloom in the early spring."
Word Nuance & Usage
The musical instrument 'viola' is often confused in spelling or speech by English speakers with the French loanword interjection 'voilà' (meaning 'there it is'), which is pronounced differently.
• Rhymes for viola
Word Origin & Etymology
The musical sense comes from Italian 'viola', derived from Old Provençal. The botanical sense comes directly from Latin 'viola', meaning 'violet'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.