oboe

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a high-pitched woodwind instrument with a narrow conical bore and a double reed, used especially in orchestras and chamber music

   The oboe played the quiet melody that tuned the mood of the opening movement.

2. 2
   noun

   an oboe player or an oboe-like voice or instrumental part

   The conductor asked the first oboe to repeat the exposed passage.

Adopted in the eighteenth century from Italian oboe, itself a spelling of French hautbois, literally 'high wood,' from haut, 'high or loud,' + bois, 'wood.' The earlier English form was hautboy. The instrument developed from the shawm family.

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