oboe UK /ˈəʊbəʊ/US /ˈoʊboʊ/ noun1 •A soprano and melody wind instrument in the modern orchestra and wind ensemble. It is a smaller instrument and generally made of grenadilla wood. It is a member of the double reed family.Whistles, mirlitons, flutes, trumpets or horns, clarinets, and oboes are all played in one or more parts of the continent. — 1990 formsoboes