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chalumeau

blowtorch

noun shah-loo-MOH Rare

Also means

reed pipe, straw

Usage Note

Chalumeau has two quite distinct senses: a traditional reed instrument (ancestor of the clarinet) in music history, and a blowtorch or welding torch in modern technical use. The plural follows the -eau pattern: chalumeaux. In cooking, a small chalumeau is used to caramelise the top of a crème brûlée.

Examples

"Il soude les tuyaux avec un chalumeau."

Natural Translation

He welds the pipes with a blowtorch.

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