mandolin

n. pear-shaped musical instrument with four or more pairs of strings

A mandolin is a musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. It is descended from the mandora. The most common design as originated in Naples, Italy has eight metal strings in four pairs (courses) that are plucked with a plectrum. Four-string (one string per course), six-string (one string per course) as per the Milanease design, twelve-string (three strings per course), and sixteen-string (four string per course) variants also exist. It has a body with a teardrop-shaped soundtable (i.e. face), or one that is essentially oval in shape, with a soundhole, or soundholes, of varying shapes that are open and not latticed.
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Noun
1. a stringed instrument related to the lute, usually played with a plectrum
(hypernym) chordophone
(hyponym) mandola
(part-meronym) fingerboard

n. mandolin, balalaika

(n.)
Alt. of Mandoline