violoncello n 1: a large stringed instrument; seated player holds it upright while playing [syn: {cello}, {violoncello}]
Violoncello \Vi`o*lon*cel"lo\ (?; 277), n. [It. violoncello, dim. of violone a bass viol. See {Violone}.] (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music; a bass viol of four strings, or a bass violin with long, large strings, giving sounds an octave lower than the viola, or tenor or alto violin. [1913 Webster]