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plectrum in British English
(ˈplɛktrəm)
nounWord forms: plural -trums or -tra (-trə)
any implement for plucking a string, such as a small piece of plastic, wood, etc, used to strum a guitar, or the quill that plucks the string of a harpsichord
Also called: plectronWord origin
C17: from Latin plēctrum quill, plectrum, from Greek plēktron, from plēssein to strikeplectrum in American English
(ˈplɛktrəm)
nounWord forms: plural ˈplectrums or ˈplectra (ˈplɛktrə)
a thin piece of metal, bone, plastic, etc., used for plucking the strings of a guitar, mandolin, etc.
: also ˈplecˌtron (ˈplɛkˌtrɑn; ˈplɛktrən) Word forms: plural ˈplectra (ˈplɛktrə) Word origin
L < Gr plēktron, device for plucking the lyre < plēssein, to strike: see plaintImage ofplectrum
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