woodwind
noun
wood·wind
ˈwu̇d-ˌwind 
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
Hearing the San Diego woodwind quintet rehearse with my dad at our home.
—
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
The woodwinds dash in for a moment before the violin arrives, leaping across scales before the orchestra returns with a celebratory flair.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Against all of this allegedly heady stuff, the score—by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—intentionally jars us from encroaching drowsiness with chortling woodwinds and shardlike piano chords that are the aural equivalent of jagged Plexiglass off-cuts.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
With its welcoming yet offbeat eddies of piano, acoustic guitar, woodwinds, and horns, Heavy Metal was a far cry from Geese’s livewire rock.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woodwind
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George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025
The woodwinds dash in for a moment before the violin arrives, leaping across scales before the orchestra returns with a celebratory flair.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Against all of this allegedly heady stuff, the score—by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross—intentionally jars us from encroaching drowsiness with chortling woodwinds and shardlike piano chords that are the aural equivalent of jagged Plexiglass off-cuts.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
With its welcoming yet offbeat eddies of piano, acoustic guitar, woodwinds, and horns, Heavy Metal was a far cry from Geese’s livewire rock.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woodwind
Cite this Entry
“Woodwind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woodwind. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
woodwind
noun
wood·wind
ˈwu̇d-ˌwind
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
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