embouchure

[ ahm-boo-shoor, ahm-boo-shoor; French ahn-boo-shyr ]

noun

, plural em·bou·chures [ahm-b, oo, -, shoorz, ahm, -b, oo, -sh, oo, rz, ah, n, -boo-, shyr].

1. the mouth of a river.
2. the opening out of a valley into a plain.
3. Music.
   1. the mouthpiece of a wind instrument.
   2. the adjustment of a player's mouth to such a mouthpiece.

embouchure

/ ˌɒmbʊˈʃʊə /

noun

1. the mouth of a river or valley
2. music
   1. the correct application of the lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument
   2. the mouthpiece of a wind instrument

Word History and Origins

Origin of embouchure¹

1750–60; < French, equivalent to embouch ( er ) to put (an instrument) to one's mouth ( em- em- ¹ + bouche mouth < Latin bucca puffed cheek) + -ure -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of embouchure¹

C18: from French, from Old French emboucher to put to one's mouth, from bouche mouth, from Latin bucca cheek

Example Sentences

Rogers’s own music is often hyper urgent and fast-acting, but in the relaxed time scale of this performance allowed, she savored every extended-technique tool in her embouchure.

From New York Times

“Don’t puff out your cheeks. Pretend you’re sucking a lemon—this is called embouchure.”

From Literature

As he occasionally, instinctually pursed his lips to practice the embouchure he uses on his mouthpiece, he explained that he was a different man when separated from his instrument.

From New York Times

Allen quickly went downtown to buy a flute, but soon realized that he couldn’t play it: “I didn’t have the embouchure. I knew the keys and everything, but I didn’t have the chops.”

From Washington Post

It’s usually the second one — it at least tells me what kind of strength I have in my embouchure.

From Los Angeles Times