Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
989,925,444 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

plectrum

   Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
plec·trum  (plktrm)
n. pl. plec·trums or plec·tra (-tr)
A small thin piece of metal, plastic, bone, or similar material, used to pluck the strings of certain instruments, such as the guitar or lute.
[Latin plctrum, from Greek plktron, from plssein, plg-, to strike; see plk-2 in Indo-European roots.]
plectrum
Noun
pl -trums or -tra an implement for plucking the strings of a guitar or similar instrument [Greek plektron]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.plectrumplectrum - a small thin device (of metal or plastic or ivory) used to pluck a stringed instrument
plectron, pick
device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water"
guitar pick - a plectrum used to pluck a guitar
Translations
Spanish plectrum [ˈplɛktrəm] n → plectro
French plectrum [ˈplɛktrəm] n → plectre m
German plectrum [ˈplɛktrəm] n → Plektron nt, Plektrum nt
Italian plectrum [ˈplɛktrəm] n → plettro
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Now slow The plectrum led to prayer the cloistered chords, Now loudly with the crash of falling rain, Now soft as the leaf whispering of words, Now loud and soft together as the long Patter of pearls and seed-pearls on a dish Of marble; liquid now as from the bush Warbles the mango bird; meandering Now as the streamlet seawards; voiceless now As the wild torrent in the strangling arms Of her ice-lover, lying motionless, Lulled in a passion far too deep for sound.
A Lute of Jade by Cranmer-Byng, L. View in context
For sounds in winter nights, and often in winter days, I heard the forlorn but melodious note of a hooting owl indefinitely far; such a sound as the frozen earth would yield if struck with a suitable plectrum, the very lingua vernacula of Walden Wood, and quite familiar to me at last, though I never saw the bird while it was making it.
Walden & on the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Thoreau, Henry David View in context
You mean, I said, those gentlemen who tease and torture the strings and rack them on the pegs of the instrument: might carry on the metaphor and speak after their manner of the blows which the plectrum gives, and make accusations against the strings, both of backwardness and forwardness to sound; but this would be tedious, and therefore I will only say that these are not the men, and that I am referring to the Pythagoreans, of whom I was just now proposing to enquire about harmony.
The Republic by Plato View in context
More results
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.