embouchure

Etymology

Borrowed from French embouchure, from emboucher.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɒm.bʊˈʃʊə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɑm.bə.ʃɚ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

embouchure (countable and uncountable, plural embouchures)

1. (music) The use of the lips, facial muscles, tongue, and teeth when playing a wind instrument.
   • 1963, Thomas Pynchon, V.:

     you could see the twin lines running down from either side of his lower lip, etched in by the force of his embouchure, looking like extensions of his mustache.

2. (archaic) The mouth of a river or valley.

Etymology

From emboucher +‎ -ure

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃.bu.ʃyʁ/

• audio

  (file)

Noun

embouchure f (plural embouchures)

1. mouthpiece (of a musical instrument)
2. embouchure (of a wind instrument player)
3. mouth (of a river)
4. bit (horse controlling mechanism)

Further reading

• “embouchure” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).