cello

UK: /ˈtʃɛləʊ/ US: /ˈtʃɛloʊ/ ,(chel′ō for 1; sel′ō for 2)

Inflections of 'cello' (n): npl: cellos

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cel•lo¹ /ˈtʃɛloʊ/   n. [countable] , pl. -los. 

1. Music and Dance a musical instrument that is the second largest member of the violin family;
   violoncello.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cel•lo¹  (chel′ō), n., pl. -los. 

1. Music and Dance the second largest member of the violin family, rested vertically on the floor between the performer's knees when being played. Also called violoncello. 

• short for violoncello 1875–80

cel•lo²  (sel′ō), n., adj. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms cellophane.

• by shortening

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cello / ˈtʃɛləʊ/ noun ( -los)

1. a bowed stringed instrument of the violin family. Range: more than four octaves upwards from C below the bass staff. It has four strings, is held between the knees, and has an extendible metal spike at the lower end, which acts as a support
   Full name: violoncello

ˈcellist noun