n., pl. -los.

A cello.

[Italian, diminutive of violone, violone. See violone.]

violoncellist vi'o·lon·cel'list n.

The bass instrument of the violin family, often abbreviated ‘cello’ (for illustration, seeViolin). It originated in the early 16th century as a member of the family called ‘viole da braccio’. The earliest source (1529) refers to a bass violin with three strings, tuned F-c-g. Later instruments added a fourth tuned to B♭ thus completing the sequence of 5ths taken from the tuning of the violin. This tuning remained in use into the late 17th century but was found not to be ideal for ensemble playing and the present-day tuning (C-G-d-a, an octave below the viola s) was adopted.

The instrument's size fluctuated considerably during the 16th and 17th centuries; most models were considerably larger than the modern standard size, fixed by Stradivari c1710. Further experiments in the 18th century led to the invention of the ‘violoncello piccolo’ (a small instrument used by Bach in his Leipzig cantatas) and a five-string violoncello (for which Bach wrote a suite). The violoncello was played held between the knees until the use of the endpin or spike, known in the late 18th century but not universally used until the late 19th, brought increased security and resonance.

During the 18th century, the cello outgrew its Baroque role as primarily a continuo instrument, with the rise of a number of virtuoso players; of these, the most distinguished was Boccherini, who wrote cello sonatas and concertos as well as a great quantity of chamber music involving high and demanding cello parts. Haydn wrote concertos for the cello, of which two survive, Beethoven a triple concerto with violin and piano. He also wrote the earliest important cello sonatas, a lead followed by Mendelssohn, Chopin and Brahms among Romantic composers. Unaccompanied cello music was written by Bach, in his six suites; this medium did not find further favour until the 20th century, with Reger and Kodály. The Romantic repertory of cello concertos consists of three important works, by Schumann, Dvořák and Elgar; more recent composers to have produced works for cello and orchestra include Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Britten.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing
  Synonym: cello

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - cello, violoncel

Nederlands (Dutch)
cello

Français (French)
n. - violoncelle

Deutsch (German)
n. - Violoncello

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (μουσ.) βιολοντσέλο

Italiano (Italian)
violoncello

Português (Portuguese)
n. - violoncelo (m) (Mús.)

Русский (Russian)
виолончель

Español (Spanish)
n. - violonchelo, violoncelo

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - violoncell

中文（简体） (Chinese (Simplified))
大提琴

中文（繁體） (Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 大提琴

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 첼로

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - チェロ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) كمان صغير‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮בטנונית, ויאולונצ'לו‬

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