Oboe

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈəʊbəʊ/

Definitions

1. A musical instrument belonging to the woodwind category, distinguished by its use of a double reed and a bright, resonant sound
2. This particular woodwind instrument is known for its expressive tone, typically utilizing a double reed for sound production
3. A woodwind musical instrument featuring a double reed, recognized for its rich and vibrant tonal quality that adds depth to orchestral music

Etymology: The instrument's name is a compound that means "high wood." In French, "hautbois" joins "haut" (high, loud, high-pitched) to "bois" (wood, a woodwind), a fitting label for a reed instrument whose piercing tone carries over louder players. English speakers knew the instrument for a long time as "hautboy," a spelling that kept the French shape almost intact. The spelling "oboe" came later. It was adopted into English around 1770 from Italian "oboè," which was an attempt to write how the French word was pronounced in the 17th century. Italian spelling simply followed the sound of that older French pronunciation, so the modern name is a respelling of a French compound that had already been pronounced differently from how it looked.

Synonyms: woodwind, instrument