Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A stringed instrument of India having a seasoned gourd for a body and a hollow wooden neck with movable raised frets. Stretched over the frets are usually 6 or 7 metal strings on which the melody is played with a pick, and stretched under the frets are 11 or more sympathetic resonating strings.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A Hindu guitar with a pear-shaped body, a long neck, and three or more strings. It is sometimes played with a bow, like a viol.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun music A Hindustani/Indian classical stringed instrument, typically having a gourd as its resonating chamber.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a stringed instrument of India; has a long neck and movable frets; has 6 or 7 metal strings for playing and usually 13 resonating strings

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Hindi sitār, from Persian : si, three; see trei- in Indo-European roots + tār, string; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Persian سه‌تار (se-târ), meaning “three strings”.

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Examples

  • In the face of numerous instruments, the sitar is the most popular in Chitral, northern Pakistan, the invention of which is attributed to Amir Khisro, a 14th century mystic poet, scholar and sage.

    Chitrali Sitar--The Mystic Musical Instrument 2009

  • The sitar is a very intimidating instrument to learn, at any age.

    Phawker 2008

  • That Paula Abdul, part-Syrian by descent, couldn't come up with the name of an Arab stringed instrument and instead said 'sitar' is a comment on Paula Abdul, not the arrangement.

    Adam Lambert sings "Ring of Fire." Ann Althouse 2009

  • It’s criticized for being a superficial dip into things they don’t understand, stealing a bit of sitar, which is an extremely complex instrument, and using it in a completely superficial way, but I think there’s an argument as strong as that the other way: saying that it doesn’t make it without substance just because it’s your interpretation of something.

    Disquiet » Psych Out 2002

  • Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 22: More than a thousand 'sitar' maestros from different parts of the country and also from abroad came under one roof to perform a grand symphony here last evening.

    dailyindia.com News Feed 2008

  • He soon cultivated a close relationship with renowned sitar player, Ravi Shankar.

    Five People Born on February 25 | myFiveBest 2010

  • Shankar, 29 (half-sister of Grammy winner Norah Jones, and daughter of sitar superstar Ravi Shankar) is reportedly pregnant, and due in the spring.

    Rosamund Pike 'Devastated' By Ex Joe Wright's Marriage To Anoushka Shankar popeater.com 2010

  • The U. K.'s Daily Mail claims that Pike ( 'Die Another Day,' 'An Education') -- whose wedding to director Joe Wright was abruptly called off in 2008 -- was completely taken by surprise when she learned recently that Wright and acclaimed sitar musician Anoushka Shankar quietly married last month.

    Rosamund Pike 'Devastated' By Ex Joe Wright's Marriage To Anoushka Shankar popeater.com 2010

  • Other groups, including the Rolling Stones began incorporating the sitar into some of their work.

    Five People Born on February 25 | myFiveBest 2010

  • The throbbing base line in the music, the sitar, and borrowed lyrics from James Joyce (I turn my head until my darkness goes – Ulysses) make this song the top of the list.

    Five Best Rolling Stones Songs | myFiveBest 2009

Comments

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  • three stringed

    July 5, 2007

  • Christian: India! India! It's set in India! And there's a courtesan, the most beautiful courtesan in all the world. But her kingdom's invaded by an evil Maharaja! Now, in order to save her kingdom, she has to seduce the evil Maharaja. But on the night of the seduction, she mistakes a penniless po- a penniless- a penniless sitar player for the evil Maharaja and she falls in love with him! He wasn't trying to trick her or anything, but he was dressed as a Maharaja because... he's appearing in a play!

    --Moulin Rouge

    July 5, 2007