lyre

views updated May 18 2018

lyre Ancient stringed musical instrument. Used originally by the Sumerians, it was introduced into Egypt and Assyria in the second millennium bc. In classical Greek times it had seven strings supported by a wooden frame and attached to a sound box at the base; the strings were plucked using a bulky plectrum. In Europe since the Middle Ages, they have more commonly been played with a bow. Today, the lyre also exists in various forms in e Africa and in Ethiopia.

World Encyclopedia

lyre

views updated May 23 2018

lyre / līr/ • n. a stringed instrument like a small U-shaped harp with strings fixed to a crossbar, used esp. in ancient Greece. Modern instruments of this type are found mainly in East Africa.

lyre

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

lyre

views updated May 11 2018

lyre XIII. — OF. lire (mod. lyre) — L. lyra — Gr. lúrā.
So lyric XVI. — F. lyrique or L. lyricus — Gr. lurikós. lyrical XVI.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

lyre

views updated May 14 2018

lyre. Ancient Gr. instr., like small harp, in which strings were fixed to a cross-bar between 2 arms and plucked by fingers or plectrum.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE

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