zithern
/'ziθə/ Cách viết khác : (zithern) /'ziθən/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A musical instrument consisting of a flat, shallow soundbox over which numerous strings are stretched. The instrument is placed on a surface or held in the lap, and the strings are plucked with a plectrum and the fingers to produce sound.
Examples
- The musician played a beautiful folk melody on the zithern.
- In the museum, we saw an antique zithern from Central Europe.
- The gentle sound of the zithern filled the quiet room.
Advanced Usage
- The term zithern is a less common variant of the word zither. It is often used interchangeably, though "zither" is the more standard and widely recognized term in modern English.
Variants and Related Words
- Zither (n): The standard and more common term for the same instrument.
- Chord zither (n): A type of zither designed to play chords easily, often with a fretboard or button system.
- Plucked string instrument (n): The general category of instruments, including the harp, guitar, and zithern, whose sound is produced by plucking strings.
Synonyms
- Zither: The primary synonym.
- Cittern (n): A historical, related string instrument, typically with a pear-shaped body and wire strings.
- Psaltery (n): An ancient and medieval instrument, a precursor to the zither family, with strings stretched over a soundboard.
Related Idioms or Phrases
- None directly associated with "zithern": As a specific instrument name, it does not commonly feature in English idioms. Idioms more frequently use general terms like "play second fiddle" or "harp on."
Noun
- a musical stringed instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board; it is laid flat and played with a plectrum and with fingers