Meaning & use
mandolin
A small stringed musical instrument with a rounded body, played by plucking or strumming its paired strings.
See it in a sentence
He learned to play the mandolin after hearing it in an old bluegrass recording.
The band added a mandolin to give the song a bright, folk-inspired sound.
A note on using this word
The same spelling also names a kitchen tool used for slicing vegetables thinly, though it is often spelled 'mandoline' to distinguish it.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A kitchen utensil with an adjustable blade used to slice fruits and vegetables into thin, even pieces.
She used a mandolin to cut the potatoes into perfectly thin slices for the gratin.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mandolin”, then compare your use with the examples above.