uke
2
9.1
- noun
- /juːk/
- Informal
:
ukelele
- I love to play my uke at the beach during sunset.
- play the uke
Examples
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Eventually, the word got out that I taught uke and guitar, and students started coming to me on their own.
Blog text (10) -
Did you tune the uke?
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No, actually I forgot my uke.
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Gabe, honey, give me the uke.
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Oh, my lucky uke.
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Brought my own uke.
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Staggs: A couple of years ago, we did a web show called Daily Uke, and our plan was for a year of consecutive daily original ukulele songs.
Blog text (28) -
When Nellie picks up her ukulele, she can be marvelously dreamy with Jobim's Meditation, or rockin' (yes, with a uke!) with the Beatles.
Blog text (20) -
The teacher encouraged everyone to bring their uke for the jam session.
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Before the concert, I always double-check the tuning of my uke.
Synonyms
22
3.2
A small instrument with four strings like a tiny guitar from Hawaii that people play for happy music
Surface Forms
Etymology
Uke is a short, informal name for ʻukulele, which comes from Hawaiian ʻuku ('flea') and lele ('to jump'). A helpful way to remember this is to imagine fingers 'jumping' quickly on the small, four-string, guitar-like instrument, which is why uke means that instrument.