oudcommon nounEtymologyexpandfrom Arabic عود al-oud (wood), gradually transformed in Europe into laute, alaude, laud, liuto, outi, or lute.Definition1. A plucked string lute, with a pear-shaped body, a short neck covered with a smooth fretless fingerboard, with eleven or twelve strings, widely used in Arab countries, Turkey, Greece, and Armenia. It is played with a plectrum.expandSynonymluth orientalPluraloudsHyperonymluthTranslationsgerman:Oudenglish:ouditalian:oud