A musical wind instrument, consisting of a hollow cylinder or pipe, with holes along its length, stopped by the fingers or by keys which are opened by the fingers. The modern flute is closed at the upper end, and blown with the mouth at a lateral hole. "The breathing flute's soft notes are heard around."
2.
(Arch.) A channel of curved section; usually applied to one of a vertical series of such channels used to decorate columns and pilasters in classical architecture.
3.
A similar channel or groove made in wood or other material, esp. in plaited cloth, as in a lady's ruffle.
4.
A long French breakfast roll.
5.
A stop in an organ, having a flutelike sound.
Flute bit, a boring tool for piercing ebony, rosewood, and other hard woods.
Flute pipe, an organ pipe having a sharp lip or wind-cutter which imparts vibrations to the column of air in the pipe.
Flute n. A kind of flyboat; a storeship.
Armed en flute (Nav.), partially armed.
verb
Flute v. t. (past & past part. fluted; pres. part. fluting)
1.
To play, whistle, or sing with a clear, soft note, like that of a flute. "Knaves are men, That lute and flute fantastic tenderness."" The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee."
2.
To form flutes or channels in, as in a column, a ruffle, etc.
Flute v. i. To play on, or as on, a flute; to make a flutelike sound.
... being vice-president of the grand junction march-of-intellect society. Mr. Frederick Snodgrass, their son (lately called to the chancery bar), who would bring his flute. ... — Stories of Comedy • Various Read full book for free!
... joyous love of comely girl and boy; His eyes were bright, and 'mid the dancing blades Of golden grass his feet did trip for joy. And in his hands he held an ivory lute, With strings of gold that were as maidens' hair, And sang with voice as tuneful as a flute, And round his neck three chains of roses were. But he that was his comrade walked aside; He was full sad and sweet, and his large eyes Were strange with wondrous brightness, staring wide With gazing; and he sighed with many sighs That moved me, and his cheeks were ... — Oscar Wilde, Volume 2 (of 2) - His Life and Confessions • Frank Harris Read full book for free!
... your slow sweet name, As one breathes low notes on a flute, Have vext your peace with word of blame, The phrase is dead — the lips are mute. Yet when I turn towards the wall, In stormy nights, in times of rain, I often wish you could recall ... — An Anthology of Australian Verse • Bertram Stevens Read full book for free!
... told a boy of nine years old (S——) the following story, which she had just met with in "The Curiosities of Literature." An officer, who was confined in the Bastille, used to amuse himself by playing on the flute: one day he observed, that a number of spiders came down from their webs, and hung round him as if listening to his music; a number of mice also came from their holes, and retired as soon as he stopped. The officer had a great dislike to mice; he procured ... — Practical Education, Volume II • Maria Edgeworth Read full book for free!
... A flute began to play in my heart. And I knew that like Ulysses's men I would have to close my ears to it. But it's easier to row past an island than to run away from your ... — The Prairie Child • Arthur Stringer Read full book for free!
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