flute
n. countablen. a musical instrument that you play by blowing across a hole while holding it sideways. It is usually made of metal and has a high, clear sound.
n. a woodwind instrument consisting of a slender tube with finger holes or keys, played by blowing across a lateral embouchure hole.
She plays the flute in the school orchestra.
The musician carefully assembled her silver flute before the concert began.
The haunting melody of the solo flute echoed through the cathedral, its high-pitched notes piercing the silence of the evening service.
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.
Compare French flûte (“a transport”)?, Dutch fluit.