Bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow.

synonym: violin.

Roget 417: musical instruments; band; string-band, brass-band; orchestra; orchestrina^†.    [Stringed instruments], monochord^†, polychord^†; harp, lyre, lute, archlute^†; mandola^†, mandolin, mandoline^†; guitar; zither; cither^†, cithern^†; gittern^†, rebeck^†, bandurria^†, bandura, banjo; bina^†, vina^†; xanorphica^†.    viol, violin, fiddle, kit; viola, viola d'amore [Fr.], viola di gamba [It]; tenor, cremona, violoncello, bass; bass viol, base viol; theorbo^†, double base, contrabasso^†, violone^†, psaltery [Slang]; bow, fiddlestick^†.    piano, pianoforte; harpsichord, clavichord, clarichord^†, manichord^†; clavier, spinet, virginals, dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, vielle^†, pianino^†, Eolian harp.    [Wind instruments]; organ, harmonium, harmoniphon^†; American organ^†, barrel organ, hand organ; accordion, seraphina^†, concertina; humming top.    flute, fife, piccolo, flageolet; clarinet, claronet^†; basset horn, corno di bassetto [It], oboe, hautboy, cor Anglais [Fr.], corno Inglese^†, bassoon, double bassoon, contrafagotto^†, serpent, bass clarinet; bagpipes, union pipes; musette, ocarina, Pandean pipes; reed instrument; sirene^†, pipe, pitch-pipe; sourdet^†; whistle, catcall; doodlesack^†, harmoniphone^†.    horn, bugle, cornet, cornet-a-pistons, cornopean^†, clarion, trumpet, trombone, ophicleide^†; French horn, saxophone, sax [Slang], buglehorn^†, saxhorn, flugelhorn^†, althorn^†, helicanhorn^†, posthorn^†; sackbut, euphonium, bombardon tuba^†.    [Vibrating surfaces] cymbal, bell, gong; tambour^†, tambourine, tamborine^†; drum, tom-tom; tabor, tabret^†, tabourine^†, taborin^†; side drum, kettle drum; timpani, tympani^†; tymbal^†, timbrel^†, castanet, bones; musical glasses, musical stones; harmonica, sounding-board, rattle; tam-tam, zambomba^†.    [Vibrating bars] reed, tuning fork, triangle, Jew's harp, musical box, harmonicon^†, xylophone.    sordine^†, sordet^†; sourdine^†, sourdet^†; mute.    (iv) PERCEPTION OF SOUND ... show more

Dutch: vedel, fiedel, viool
Polish: skrzypce

Avoid (one's assigned duties).

synonyms: goldbrick, shirk, shrink from.

Dutch: zich drukken, zijn plicht ontlopen

Commit fraud and steal from one's employer.

Play the violin or fiddle.

Dutch: fiedelen, vioolspelen

Play on a violin.

Manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination:
— Don't fiddle with the screws.

synonyms: diddle, play, toy.

Roget 416: play, pipe, strike up, sweep the chords, tweedle, fiddle; strike the lyre, beat the drum; blow the horn, sound the horn, wind the horn; doodle; grind the organ; touch the guitar etc. (instruments) 417; thrum, strum, beat time.    execute, perform; accompany; sing a second, play a second; compose, set to music, arrange.    sing, chaunt, chant, hum, warble, carol, chirp, chirrup, lilt, purl, quaver, trill, shake, twitter, whistle; sol-fa^†; intone.    have an ear for music, have a musical ear, have a correct ear.    ... show more

Dutch: spelen, stoeien

Play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly:
— The reporter fiddle with the facts.

synonyms: monkey, tamper.

Dutch: manipuleren

Try to fix or mend:
— She always fiddles with her van on the weekend.

synonym: tinker.