n. & v.
--n.
1. a a high-pitched woodwind instrument of metal or wood, having holes along it stopped by the fingers or keys, and held across the body. b an organ stop having a similar sound. c any of various wind instruments resembling a flute. d a flute-player.
2 a Archit. an ornamental vertical groove in a column. b a trumpet-shaped frill on a dress etc. c any similar cylindrical groove.
3 a tall narrow wineglass.
--v.
1. intr. play the flute.
2 intr. speak, sing, or whistle in a fluting way.
3 tr. make flutes or grooves in.
4 tr. play (a tune etc.) on a flute.
Derivatives:
flutelike adj. fluting n. flutist n. US (cf. FLAUTIST). fluty adj. (in sense 1a of n.).
Etymology: ME f. OF fl{euml}ute, fl{auml}ute, flahute, prob. f. Prov. fl{auml}ut