woodwind

noun

wood·​wind ˈwu̇d-ˌwind How to pronounce woodwind (audio)
1
: any of a group of wind instruments (such as a clarinet, flute, oboe, or saxophone) that are characterized by a cylindrical or conical tube of wood or metal usually ending in a slightly flared bell, that produce tones by the vibration of one or two reeds in the mouthpiece or by the passing of air over a mouth hole, and that usually have finger holes or keys by which the player may produce all the tones within an instrument's range
2
woodwinds plural : the woodwind section of a band or orchestra

Examples of woodwind in a Sentence

He plays all the woodwind instruments very well.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The work was partially composed and recorded prior to the aforementioned woodwind release, according to a press release. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 6 May 2025 Yes and became yes and no, much like a musical conductor tells the strings and woodwinds to play louder and the brass to pipe down. Michael Alcée, Hartford Courant, 13 Apr. 2025 Incorporating instrumentation like strings, woodwinds and upright bass, alongside his own work on piano, Hood succeeds in crafting a compelling album which also functions as a departure from the Truckers’ sonic palette. Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 The most delicate strokes came from the woodwinds — the musical representation of the woman’s guilt — and French horns, whose dynamic control gave the tableau three-dimensional depth. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for woodwind

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of woodwind was in 1876

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Cite this Entry

“Woodwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woodwind. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

woodwind

noun
wood·​wind ˈwu̇d-ˌwind How to pronounce woodwind (audio)
1
: one of a group of musical instruments including flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, and sometimes saxophones compare brass instrument, percussion instrument, stringed instrument
2
plural : the woodwind instruments of a band or orchestra
woodwind adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on woodwind

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