oboe d'amore

noun

oboe d'a·​mo·​re

¦ō(ˌ)bōdəˈmōrē,

ˌōbəˌwād-

plural oboi d'amore

ˌōbəˌwēd-

or oboe d'amores

-rˌēz

1

: a mezzo-soprano oboe having a pear-shaped bell and a rich somber tone

2

or oboe d'amour

¦ō(ˌ)bōdəˈmu̇(ə)r

plural oboe d'amours

-rz

[modification (influenced by oboe) of French hautbois d'amour] : a pipe-organ oboe stop having a veiled and pathetic tone

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, oboe of love, probably translation of French hautbois d'amour

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