oboe

¹

[ oh-boh ]

noun

1. a woodwind instrument having a slender conical, tubular body and a double-reed mouthpiece.
2. (in an organ) a reed stop with a sound like that of an oboe.
3. (a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter O. )

oboe

²

[ oh-boh ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a navigation system utilizing two radar ground stations that measure the distance to an aircraft and then radio the information to the aircraft.

oboe

/ ˈəʊbəʊ /

noun

1. a woodwind instrument of the family that includes the bassoon and cor anglais, consisting of a conical tube fitted with a mouthpiece having a double reed. It has a penetrating nasal tone. Range: about two octaves plus a sixth upwards from B flat below middle C
2. a person who plays this instrument in an orchestra

   second oboe

oboe

1. A woodwind instrument played with a double reed ; similar to a bassoon , but pitched higher. Some describe its tone as nasal.

Notes

The oboe appears frequently as a solo instrument in symphonies and other kinds of classical music .

Derived Forms

• ˈoboist, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oboe¹

1690–1700; < Italian < French hautbois, equivalent to haut high + bois wood; hautboy

Origin of oboe²

First recorded in 1940–45; special use of oboe ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of oboe¹

C18: via Italian oboe, phonetic approximation to French haut bois, literally: high wood (referring to its pitch)

Example Sentences

Nollman mainly plays slide guitar for whale species, but has worked with a wide range of other musicians, including a grammy-winning oboe player, violinists, percussionists, a chanting Tibetian lama and more.

From Salon

His evocative, familiar “Swan Lake” score is at least partly to blame for horror’s ballet fixation: Its plaintive oboe and shimmering harp offer all the dramatic tension a director could need.

From New York Times

Adaptations to oboe abound, including from wordless vocalises by Ravel, Messiaen and Saint-Saëns.

From New York Times

She gave as an example a scene at Eric’s ranch in Wyoming where “oboes and clarinets play triplets, suggesting someone riding a horse.”

From Washington Times

He worked on four albums blending his oboe with horns, strings and drums in instrumental interpretations of hits of the day.

From BBC