flute

B1 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /flu(ː)t/ See IPA manual

Freq #8359

Meanings

1

noun
A musical instrument shaped like a long tube, played by blowing across a hole near one end.

She played a gentle tune on the flute.
2

noun
A tall, narrow glass used for drinking champagne.

The waiter filled each flute with sparkling champagne.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a musical instrument shaped... western concert flute

2 noun · a tall, narrow glass used... champagne flute

Word family

Forms flutedflutesflutiestflutingfluty

Derived forms flute-birdflute-playerflutefulflutelessflutemouthfluterfluteworkfluteyflutistflutophonefluty

Related forms flageoletflautistflute-doucefluted

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

champagne flute
a tall narrow glass used for serving champagne

Noun + noun

Tongue twisters (1)

See all

A Tutor Who Tooted
A tutor, who tooted a flute, tried to tutor two tooters to toot. Said the two to the tutor: “Is it harder to toot, or tutor two tooters to toot?”

Keep toot, tooted and tooters distinct while maintaining the long vowel. Tutor varies by accent, so it need not begin exactly like toot.

Etymology

From Middle English fleute, floute, flote, from Old French flaute, fleüte, from Old Provençal flaüt, of uncertain origin. Perhaps ultimately from three possibilities: * Blend of Provencal flaujol (“flageolet”) + laüt (“lute”) * From Latin flātus (“blowing”), from flāre (“to blow”) * Imitative. Doublet of flauta and fluyt.

fleute Middle English flaute Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# flute

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /flu(ː)t/
**Frequency rank:** 8359

## Meanings
1. A musical instrument shaped like a long tube, played by blowing across a hole near one end.
2. A tall, narrow glass used for drinking champagne.

## Examples
- She played a gentle tune on the flute.
- The waiter filled each flute with sparkling champagne.

## Derived Forms
- flute-bird
- flute-player
- fluteful
- fluteless
- flutemouth
- fluter
- flutework
- flutey
- flutist
- flutophone
- fluty

## Related Forms
- flageolet
- flautist
- flute-douce
- fluted

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: fleute
- Root: flaute

## Etymology
From Middle English fleute, floute, flote, from Old French flaute, fleüte, from Old Provençal flaüt, of uncertain origin. Perhaps ultimately from three possibilities: * Blend of Provencal flaujol (“flageolet”) + laüt (“lute”) * From Latin flātus (“blowing”), from flāre (“to blow”) * Imitative. Doublet of flauta and fluyt.

## AI Etymology
Flute comes from Middle English fleute, floute, flote, from Old French flaute, fleüte, from Old Provençal flaüt, of uncertain origin. Perhaps ultimately from three possibilities: Blend of Provencal flaujol (“flageolet”) + laüt (“lute”); From Latin flātus (“blowing”), from flāre (“to blow”); Imitative. Doublet of flauta and fluyt. In current use, the main senses are “A musical instrument shaped like a long tube, played by blowing across a hole near one end” and “A tall, narrow glass used for drinking champagne”.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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