# flute

/ˈfɫut/ (US) · /flˈuːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flute
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. musical instrument

noun · CEFR A2

a thin, metal or wooden musical instrument that you play by blowing air across a hole while covering other holes with your fingers.

For teachers: a woodwind instrument consisting of a tube with holes stopped by fingers or keys, producing sound from the vibration of air blown across an opening.

- She practiced the flute for an hour every day before her concert.
- The soloist performed a complex concerto, demonstrating the flute's ability to produce both piercing high notes and mellow lower tones.

### 2. drinking glass

noun · CEFR B2

a tall, very thin glass with a long stem, used for drinking champagne or sparkling wine.

For teachers: a tall, narrow-stemmed glass with a tapered bowl designed to retain the carbonation in sparkling wines.

- The waiter filled each flute with cold champagne for the wedding toast.
- Guests held their flutes aloft as the host delivered a moving speech in honor of the couple's anniversary.

### 3. architectural groove

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a long, vertical curve or groove cut into a stone pillar or column.

For teachers: a decorative semicircular groove or channel, typically one of a series cut vertically into the shaft of a classical column.

- The old stone columns had deep flutes that caught the shadows of the evening sun.
- The architect specified that each Doric column should feature twenty distinct flutes to maintain historical accuracy.

### 4. to speak or sing clearly

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to speak or sing in a high, clear, and pleasant voice.

For teachers: to utter sounds or words in a high-pitched, melodic tone reminiscent of a flute.

- The birds fluted their songs from the trees early in the morning.
- She fluted a cheerful greeting from the balcony, her voice carrying clearly across the quiet courtyard.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.