woodwind

[woo d-wind] /ˈwʊdˌwɪnd/
noun
1.
a musical wind instrument of the group comprising the flutes, clarinets, oboes, bassoons, and occasionally, the saxophones.
2.
woodwinds, the section of an orchestra or band comprising the woodwind instruments.
adjective
3.
of, relating to, or composed of woodwinds.
Origin
1875-80; wood1 + wind3
Examples from the web for woodwinds
  • Unlike other woodwinds, all three registers have characteristically different sounds.
British Dictionary definitions for woodwinds

woodwind

/ˈwʊdˌwɪnd/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or denoting a type of wind instrument, excluding the brass instruments, formerly made of wood but now often made of metal, such as the flute or clarinet
noun
2.
(functioning as pl) woodwind instruments collectively
Word Origin and History for woodwinds

woodwind

n.

1876, from wood (n.) + wind (n.).

woodwinds in Culture

woodwinds definition


A group of wind instruments with a softer tone than that of brass instruments. Woodwind players do not set the air in their instruments in motion by blowing through their closed lips against a cup-shaped mouthpiece, as players of brass instruments do. In woodwinds, the players insert the mouthpiece into their mouths and blow while pressing their lips against a single or double reed. Bassoons, clarinets, oboes, and saxophones are played in this way. In other woodwinds, the player blows across a hole (fifes, flutes, and piccolos) or into a whistlelike mouthpiece (recorders).