Definitions for fiddle
ˈfɪd lfid·dle

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. violin, fiddle(verb)

   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

2. fiddle, shirk, shrink from, goldbrick(verb)

   avoid (one's assigned duties)

   "The derelict soldier shirked his duties"

3. fiddle(verb)

   commit fraud and steal from one's employer

   "We found out that she had been fiddling for years"

4. fiddle(verb)

   play the violin or fiddle

5. fiddle(verb)

   play on a violin

   "Zuckerman fiddled that song very nicely"

6. toy, fiddle, diddle, play(verb)

   manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination

   "She played nervously with her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws"; "He played with the idea of running for the Senate"

7. tamper, fiddle, monkey(verb)

   play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly

   "Someone tampered with the documents on my desk"; "The reporter fiddle with the facts"

8. tinker, fiddle(verb)

   try to fix or mend

   "Can you tinker with the T.V. set--it's not working right"; "She always fiddles with her van on the weekend"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. fiddle(Noun)

   Any of various bowed string instruments, often used to refer to a violin when played in any of various traditional styles, as opposed to classical violin.

   When I play it like this, it's a fiddle; when I play it like that, it's a violin.

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

2. fiddle(Noun)

   An adjustment intended to cover up a basic flaw.

   That parameter setting is just a fiddle to make the lighting look right.

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

3. fiddle(Noun)

   fraud

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

4. fiddle(Noun)

   On board a ship or boat, a rail or batten around the edge of a table or stove to prevent objects falling off at sea. (Also fiddle rail)

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

5. fiddle(Verb)

   To play aimlessly.

   You're fiddling your life away.

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

6. fiddle(Verb)

   To adjust in order to cover a basic flaw or fraud etc.

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

7. fiddle(Verb)

   To play traditional tunes on a violin in a non-classical style.

   Etymology: From fithele, from fiðele.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Fiddle(noun)

   a stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit

   Etymology: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fila, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

2. Fiddle(noun)

   a kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; -- called also fiddle dock

   Etymology: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fila, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

3. Fiddle(noun)

   a rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather

   Etymology: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fila, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

4. Fiddle(verb)

   to play on a fiddle

   Etymology: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fila, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

5. Fiddle(verb)

   to keep the hands and fingers actively moving as a fiddler does; to move the hands and fingers restlessy or in busy idleness; to trifle

   Etymology: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fila, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

6. Fiddle(verb)

   to play (a tune) on a fiddle

   Etymology: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fila, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. fiddle

   A fiddle is any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music. Fiddle playing, or fiddling, refers to various styles of music. Common distinctions between violins and fiddles reflect the differences in the instruments used to play folk and classical music. However, it is not uncommon for classically trained violinists to play folk music, and today many fiddle players have classical training. Many traditional styles are aural traditions, so are taught 'by ear' rather than with written music.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Fiddle

   fid′l, n. a stringed instrument of music, called also a Violin.—v.t. or v.i. to play on a fiddle: to be busy over trifles, to trifle:—pr.p. fidd′ling; pa.p. fidd′led.—ns. Fidd′le-block, a long block having two sheaves of different diameters in the same plane; Fidd′le-bow, a bow strung with horse-hair, with which the strings of the fiddle are set vibrating.—interjs. Fidd′le-de-dee, Fidd′lestick (often pl.), nonsense!—v.i. Fidd′le-fadd′le, to trifle, to dally.—n. trifling talk.—adj. fussy, trifling.—interj. nonsense!—n. Fidd′le-fadd′ler.—adj. Fidd′le-fadd′ling.—ns. Fidd′le-head, an ornament at a ship's bow, over the cut-water, consisting of a scroll turning aft or inward; Fidd′ler, one who fiddles: a small crab of genus Gelasimus; Fidd′le-string, a string for a fiddle; Fidd′le-wood, a tropical American tree yielding valuable hard wood.—adj. Fidd′ling, trifling, busy about trifles.—Fiddler's green, a sailor's name for a place of frolic on shore.—Play first, or second, fiddle, to take the part of the first, or second, violin-player in an orchestra: to take a leading, or a subordinate, part in anything; Scotch fiddle, the itch. [A.S. fiðele; Ger. fiedel. See Violin.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. fiddle

   A contrivance to prevent things from rolling off the table in bad weather. It takes its name from its resemblance to a fiddle, being made of small cords passed through wooden bridges, and hauled very taut.

How to pronounce fiddle?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say fiddle in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of fiddle in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of fiddle in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of fiddle in a Sentence

1. Edward Lear:

   I was much distressed by next door people who had twin babies and played the violin; but one of the twins died, and the other has eaten the fiddle - so all is peace.

2. Elizabeth Ochoa:

   If you stop prioritizing your marriage and allow it to play second fiddle to work, your partner will probably start to feel isolated and angry.

3. Scott Baio:

   I think John Stamos always wanted to be Chachi instead of playing second fiddle to a 3-year-old.

4. Jeb Bush:

   Look, I just think he's uninformed. He knows what he's saying. He's smart. He's playing you guys like a fiddle, the press, by saying outrageous things and garnering attention. That's his strategy, is to dominate the news.

5. Author Unknown:

   To feel "fit as a fiddle" you must tone down your middle.

Images & Illustrations of fiddle

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