Definition

1. Noun:
   • A musical instrument: The oboe is a woodwind instrument with a slender, conical bore and a double reed. It is known for its distinctive, penetrating, and often lyrical sound.

Usage

• The oboe is a standard member of the orchestra and concert band, often playing the tuning note for the ensemble.
• An oboist is a musician who plays the oboe.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The solo for the second movement is written for the oboe.
  • She has been practicing the oboe for five years.

Advanced Usage

• "Oboe d'amore": A slightly larger, lower-pitched relative of the standard oboe, with a pear-shaped bell and a mellower tone.
  • The baroque piece calls for an oboe d'amore.
• "Oboe da caccia": A historical, curved tenor oboe, a precursor to the modern English horn.
  • The museum displayed an original oboe da caccia.

Variants and Related Words

• Oboist (n): A person who plays the oboe.
  • The principal oboist played the tuning note.
• Cor anglais / English horn (n): A larger, lower-pitched double-reed instrument in the oboe family.
  • The mournful melody was played by the cor anglais.

Synonyms

• Woodwind instrument: A general term for instruments like the oboe, flute, clarinet, and bassoon.
• Double-reed instrument: A category of instruments, including the oboe and bassoon, that use two reeds vibrating together to produce sound.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To have a reed like an oboe": This is not a standard idiom. The oboe is sometimes referenced metaphorically to describe a clear, piercing, or plaintive sound in a non-musical context.
  • Her voice cut through the noise with the clarity of an oboe.

Noun

1. a slender double-reed instrument; a woodwind with a conical bore and a double-reed mouthpiece