I. ˈflüt, usu -üd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English floute, from Middle French flaute, flahute, fleute, from Old Provençal flaut, perhaps alteration (influenced by laut lute) of flaujol, flauja, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin flabeolum — more at lute , flageolet
1. : a wind instrument stopped at one end with a vibrating air column used as a means of tone production:
a. : recorder
b. : an orchestral instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder with finger holes along its length, with a lateral hole for blowing into, and with a compass of three octaves up from the middle C — called also transverse flute
2. : flutist ; usually : a flute player in a band or orchestra
3. : any of various flute-shaped things: as
a. : a long French breakfast roll
b. or flute glass : a tall slender wineglass
c. : a long shuttle used in weaving tapestry
d. : a grooved or ridged pleat used especially in ruffles, edgings, or hat brims
e. : a groove (as in a reamer, twist drill, or tap) parallel or nearly parallel to the axis of a cylindrical piece
4. : a groove of curved section: as
a. : any of a series of vertical grooves used to decorate columns and pilasters in classical architecture
b. : any of various similar ornamental grooves (as on furniture or silverware)
c. : one of the parallel grooves in corrugated board or glass (as in the lens of a headlight)
d.
(1) : a natural groove or channel on a rock surface (as in a cave)
(2) flutes plural : scalloped or rippled rock surfaces — called also fluting
5. : a molder's tool for forming grooves
6. or flute stop : a flue pipe-organ stop of flute quality and of 8-foot or 4-foot pitch
[s]flute.jpg[/s] [
flute 1b
]
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English flouten, from Middle French flauter, from flaute
intransitive verb
: to play on or as if on a flute : make a sound like that of a flute
transitive verb
1. : to play, whistle, or sing with a clear soft note like that of a flute
2. : to form flutes in (as the shaft of a column or the crust of a pie)
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Dutch fluit, literally, flute, from Middle Dutch flūte, fleute, floite, from Old French flaute, flahute, fleute — more at flute I
1. : a flyboat usually with a narrow cabin not projecting beyond the rudderhead
2. : a former partially armed naval transport