- a Japanese stringed instrument, consisting of a rectangular wooden body over which are stretched silk strings, which are plucked with plectrums or a nail-like device
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
ko•to
(kō′tō; Japn. kô′tô′),USA pronunciation n., pl. -tos, -to.
- Music and Dancea Japanese musical instrument having numerous strings, usually seven or thirteen, that are stretched over a convex wooden sounding board and are plucked with three plectra, worn on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of one hand.
- Japanese
- 1785–95
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
koto /ˈkəʊtəʊ/ n ( pl kotos)