Main Entry:

oboe

Pronunciation:

\ˈō-(ˌ)bō\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Italian, from French hautbois — more at hautbois

Date:

1794

: a double-reed woodwind instrument having a conical tube, a brilliant penetrating tone, and a usual range from B flat below middle C upward for over 2¹⁄₂ octaves

— obo·ist \ˈō-(ˌ)bō-ist\ noun

[oboe illustration]