noun
fret
A raised strip on a stringed instrument's fingerboard that marks a note position.
The guitarist presses a string just behind the fret.
Etymology
Origin uncertain. The instrument-name identifies the divisions of a fingerboard; no single deeper derivation is secure.
More examples
- Several frets crossed the fingerboard.
- The fret was worn.
- He replaced the damaged fret.
Forms
fret · frets
Similar words
- ridge
- Any raised strip rather than an instrument's pitch marker.
- fretboard
- The whole surface bearing frets rather than one strip.