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. flutelike adj. fluting n. flutist n. US (cf. FLAUTIST). fluty adj. (in sense 1a of n.).
[ ME f. OF flute, flute, flahute, prob. f. Prov. flut ]