flute

1 of 2

noun

ˈflüt 

1

a

: recorder sense 3

b

: a keyed woodwind instrument consisting of a cylindrical tube which is stopped at one end and which has a side hole over which air is blown to produce the tone and having a range from middle C upward for three octaves

2

: something long and slender: such as

a

: a tall slender wineglass

b

: a grooved pleat (as on a hat brim)

3

: a rounded groove

specifically : one of the vertical parallel grooves on a classical architectural column

flutelike

ˈflüt-ˌlīk 

adjective

fluty adjective

or flutey

ˈflü-tē 

Illustration of flute

• flute 1b

flute

2 of 2

verb

fluted; fluting

intransitive verb

1

: to play a flute

2

: to produce a flutelike sound

transitive verb

1

: to utter with a flutelike sound

2

: to form flutes in

fluter noun

Did you know?

This is a woodwind instrument whose sound is produced by blowing against a sharp edge. Flutes may be end-blown, like the recorder, or may have a round shape, like the ocarina; however, the term usually refers to the transverse flute of Western music. The transverse flute, a tubular instrument held sideways to the right, appeared in Greece and Italy by the second century ce. By the 16th century, flutes with finger holes but no keys were in use in Europe. Keys began to be added in the late 17th century. Later 19th-century innovations resulted in the modern flute. The cylindrical tube may be made of wood or, more often, a precious metal or alloy. The flute family also includes the piccolo, the alto flute, and the rare bass flute.

Examples of flute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

André, 49, was spotted playing the flute as early as 2019 in Philadelphia, and his globe-trotting woodwind exploits have gone viral many times since then. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 12 Dec. 2024

Sonically, her quasi-performance which consisted of playing a flute and singing leaned into the realm of jazz. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 6 Dec. 2024

Verb

In 75 minutes – in fluting, soaring voices, to music by Jan Ekedahl – 35 singers carry us to Stockholm and back. —Maggie Lewis Thomas, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Dec. 2024

The points were fluted and came in various sizes, often used on projectiles like spears. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English floute, from Anglo-French floute, fleute, from Old French flaüte, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing flute

• fipple flute

Kids Definition

flute

1 of 2 noun

ˈflüt 

1

: a woodwind instrument played by blowing across a hole near the closed end

2

: a rounded groove

especially : one on an architectural column

flutelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

flute

2 of 2 verb

fluted; fluting

1

: to play a flute

2

: to make a sound like that of a flute

3

: to form flutes in

fluted columns