noun
zither
ZITH-uh
Zither (noun) means a stringed musical instrument with a flat sounding box and many strings stretched over it, played with a plectrum or the fingertips. Example: “She laid the zither across her knees and began to pluck a slow tune.”
noun
1
A stringed musical instrument with a flat sounding box and many strings stretched over it, played with a plectrum or the fingertips.
"She laid the zither across her knees and began to pluck a slow tune."
"The café had a man playing the zither in the corner."
"Most zithers have far more strings than a guitar."
How to use zither
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flat, many-stringed instrument that you pluck.
When to use it
It is an ordinary, neutral word, used mostly when talking about music.
Common pairings
play the zither
zither music
a zither player
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She laid the _____ across her knees and began to pluck a slow tune.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from German Zither, which came from Old High German zithara. That in turn goes back to Latin cithara and Ancient Greek kithara, a kind of harp.
Synonyms
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cither
zithern
Rhymes for zither
See all rhymes for zither →Frequently asked questions
What is a zither?
A zither is a stringed instrument with a flat sounding box and many strings. It is played with a plectrum or the fingertips.
How do you pronounce zither?
In British English it is said ZITH-uh, with the stress on the first syllable and a soft th as in this.
Where does the word zither come from?
It was borrowed from German Zither, which comes from Old High German and Latin, and ultimately from the Ancient Greek word for a kind of harp.
What is the meaning of zither?
"zither" (noun) means a stringed musical instrument with a flat sounding box and many strings stretched over it, played with a plectrum or the fingertips.
