n. [ OE. floute, floite, fr. OF. flaüte, flahute, flahuste, F. fl&unr_;te; cf. LL. flauta, D. fluit. See Flute, v. i. ] 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The breathing flute's soft notes are heard around. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. See Illust. under Base, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A similar channel or groove made in wood or other material, esp. in plaited cloth, as in a lady's ruffle. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A long French breakfast roll. Simonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A stop in an organ, having a flutelike sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. flûte a transport, D. fluit. ] A kind of flyboat; a storeship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Armed en flûte fld>(Nav.), partially armed. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ OE. flouten, floiten, OF. flaüter, fleüter, flouster, F. flûter, cf. D. fluiten; ascribed to an assumed LL. flautare, flatuare, fr. L. flatus a blowing, fr. flare to blow. Cf. Flout, Flageolet, Flatulent. ] To play on, or as on, a flute; to make a flutelike sound. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fluted p. pr. & vb. n. Fluting ] 1. To play, whistle, or sing with a clear, soft note, like that of a flute. [ 1913 Webster ]

Knaves are men,
That lute and flute fantastic tenderness. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form flutes or channels in, as in a column, a ruffle, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ F. ] (Mus.) A beak flute, an older form of the flute, played with a mouthpiece resembling a beak, and held like a flageolet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Thin; fine; clear and mellow; flutelike; as, fluted notes. Busby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Decorated with flutes; channeled; grooved; as, a fluted column; a fluted ruffle; a fluted spectrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A fish of the genus Aulostoma, having a much elongated tubular snout. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who plays on the flute; a flutist or flautist. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who makes grooves or flutings. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Decoration by means of flutes or channels; a flute, or flutes collectively; as, the fluting of a column or pilaster; the fluting of a lady's ruffle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fluting iron, a laundry iron for fluting ruffles; -- called also Italian iron, or gaufering iron. Knight. --
Fluting lathe, a machine for forming spiral flutes, as on balusters, table legs, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. flûtiste. ] A performer on the flute; a flautist. Busby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To move with quick vibrations or undulations; as, a sail flutters in the wind; a fluttering fan. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To move about briskly, irregularly, or with great bustle and show, without much result. [ 1913 Webster ]

No rag, no scrap, of all the beau, or wit,
That once so fluttered, and that once so writ. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be in agitation; to move irregularly; to flucttuate; to be uncertainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Long we fluttered on the wings of doubtful success. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

His thoughts are very fluttering and wandering. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]