embouchure

American  

[ahm-boo-shoor, ahm-boo-shoor, ahn-boo-shyr] / ˌɑm bʊˈʃʊər, ˈɑm bʊˌʃʊər, ɑ̃ buˈʃür /

noun

PLURAL

embouchures

1. the mouth of a river.

2. the opening out of a valley into a plain.

3. Music.

   1. the mouthpiece of a wind instrument.

   2. the adjustment of a player's mouth to such a mouthpiece.

---

embouchure British  

/ ˌɒmbʊˈʃʊə /

noun

1. the mouth of a river or valley

2. music

   1. the correct application of the lips and tongue in playing a wind instrument

   2. the mouthpiece of a wind instrument

---

Etymology

Origin of embouchure

1750–60; < French, equivalent to embouch ( er ) to put (an instrument) to one's mouth ( em- em- ¹ + bouche mouth < Latin bucca puffed cheek) + -ure -ure

Example Sentences

Trumpeters need to play all the time because of the embouchure and muscle memory.

From Salon

Rogers’s own music is often hyper urgent and fast-acting, but in the relaxed time scale of this performance allowed, she savored every extended-technique tool in her embouchure.

From New York Times

As he occasionally, instinctually pursed his lips to practice the embouchure he uses on his mouthpiece, he explained that he was a different man when separated from his instrument.

From New York Times

Allen quickly went downtown to buy a flute, but soon realized that he couldn’t play it: “I didn’t have the embouchure. I knew the keys and everything, but I didn’t have the chops.”

From Washington Post

It’s usually the second one — it at least tells me what kind of strength I have in my embouchure.

From Los Angeles Times