A flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. You play it by blowing over a hole near one end while holding it sideways to your mouth.
flute in British English
(fluːt)
noun
1.
a wind instrument consisting of an open cylindrical tube of wood or metal having holes in the side stopped either by the fingers or by pads controlled by keys. The breath is directed across a mouth hole cut in the side, causing the air in the tube to vibrate. Range: about three octaves upwards from middle C
2.
any pipe blown directly on the principle of a flue pipe, either by means of a mouth hole or through a fipple
3. architecture
a rounded shallow concave groove on the shaft of a column, pilaster, etc
4.
a groove or furrow in cloth, etc
5.
a tall narrow wineglass
6.
anything shaped like a flute
verb
7.
to produce or utter (sounds) in the manner or tone of a flute
8. (transitive)
to make grooves or furrows in
Derived forms
flutelike (ˈfluteˌlike)
adjective
fluty (ˈfluty) or flutey (ˈflutey)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Old French flahute, via Old Provençal, from Vulgar Latin flabeolum (unattested); perhaps also influenced by Old Provençal laut lute; see flageolet
flute in American English
(flut)
noun
1.
a.
a high-pitched wind instrument consisting of a long, slender tube, played by blowing across a hole near one end: by fingering the holes and keysalong its length, the player can produce various tones
b.
any of various similar instruments, as the fipple flute
2.
a.
an ornamental groove or pleat in cloth, etc.
b. Architecture
a long, vertical, rounded groove in the shaft of a column
3.
a.
a flue pipe
b.
a flue organ stop with a flutelike tone
4.
a tall, slender wineglass, used esp. for champagne
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈfluted or ˈfluting
5.
to sing, speak, whistle, etc. in a flutelike tone
6.
to play on the flute
7.
to make long, rounded grooves in (a column, etc.)
verb intransitive
8.
to play on the flute
9.
to sing, speak, whistle, etc. in a flutelike tone
Derived forms
flutelike (ˈfluteˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
ME floute < OFr fleüte, flaute < Prov fläut, prob. < flaujol (OFr flajeol: see flageolet1) + laüt, lute1
flute in Mechanical Engineering
(flut)
Word forms: (regular plural) flutes
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
Flutes are lines cut in a spiral into the surface of something, especially in a drill bit.
The flutes in a drill bit help to carry the cuttings away.
The smallest microdrills do not have helical flutes like conventional drills and this makes chip removal from the hole more difficult.
Flutes are lines cut in a spiral into the surface of something, especially in a drill bit.
Some of the women were playing flutes whose notes would have filled the green spaces.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
As much as you can improve as a flute player.
The Sun (2008)
Hearing the flute play in isolation first helps to distinguish the flute when it is played in a group.
Christianity Today (2000)
Music was a bit naff, like playing the flute or something.
The Sun (2013)
Music was important to him, and besides the violin he learnt to play the flute and piano.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But a countertenor voice is built through a different muscular procedure and the result is like the difference between a flute and an oboe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
So you can play a drum but you can't play a flute or a violin or indeed sing.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The first part comprises three women and a male dancer in a giant white hoop skirt who appears to be playing a Chinese flute.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And then I heard you playing your flute.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
She plays the flute and piano to Grade Eight standard.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She did well: learnt to play the flute, how to ride horses.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
One day Laurel stumbles on a stranger, a tattered young man who plays the flute.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
One day, Laurel comes upon a stranger playing his flute in the woods.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Then flute and oboe bored, like worms of like platinum, into the thick thick toffee gold and silver.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
The aid workers kicked off with an exemplary display, singing impromptu Armenian folk songs to a flute and guitar in their cramped main office.
Marsden, Philip The Crossing-Place (1993)
You might listen out for a violin or flute solo in a piece of music, but it's really about how the instruments work together.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Word lists with
flute
instrument, orchestra
In other languages
flute
British English: flute /fluːt/ NOUN
A flute is a musical wind instrument consisting of a long tube with holes in it. You play it by blowing over a hole at one end while holding it sideways.
American English: flute
Arabic: فُلُوت
Brazilian Portuguese: flauta
Chinese: 长笛
Croatian: flauta
Czech: flétna
Danish: fløjte instrument
Dutch: fluit
European Spanish: flauta travesera
Finnish: huilu
French: flûte
German: Flöte
Greek: φλάουτο
Italian: flauto
Japanese: フルート
Korean: 플루트
Norwegian: fløyte
Polish: flet
European Portuguese: flauta
Romanian: flaut
Russian: флейта
Latin American Spanish: flauta
Swedish: tvärflöjt
Thai: ขลุ่ย
Turkish: flüt
Ukrainian: флейта
Vietnamese: ống sáo
All related terms of 'flute'
bass flute
the lowest instrument in the flute family, pitched one octave below the concert flute
Böhm flute
a type of flute in which the holes are covered with keys ; the standard type of modern flute
nose flute
(esp in the South Sea Islands) a type of flute blown through the nose
English flute
a person who records, such as an official or historian
fipple flute
an end-blown flute provided with a fipple , such as the recorder or flageolet
champagne flute
a tall , thin champagne glass
transverse flute
the normal orchestral flute , as opposed to the recorder (or fipple flute)