Definition of "flute"

flute¹

/fluːt/

noun
plural flutes
1. A woodwind instrument consisting of a tube with a row of holes that produce sound through vibrations caused by air blown across the edge of the holes, often tuned by plugging one or more holes with a finger; the Western concert flute, a transverse side-blown flute of European origin.
  Quotations
  The breathing flute's ſoft notes are heard around, / And the ſhril trumpets mix their ſilver ſound; / The vaulted roofs vvith echoing muſic ring, / Theſe touch the vocal ſtops, and thoſe the trembling ſtring.
  1709, Alexander Pope, “January and May; or, The Merchant’s Tale, from Chaucer”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, page 217
2. (colloquial) A recorder, also a woodwind instrument.
3. A glass with a long, narrow bowl and a long stem, used for drinking wine, especially champagne.
  Quotations
  These are champagne glasses, says Peggy.No, I mean the tall ones, Jamie says.You're thinking of flutes, says Peggy. These are coupes.
  2018, Sally Rooney, “Six Months Later (July 2013)”, in Normal People
4. A lengthwise groove, such as one of the lengthwise grooves on a classical column, or a groove on a cutting tool (such as a drill bit, endmill, or reamer), which helps to form both a cutting edge and a channel through which chips can escape
5. (architecture, firearms) A semicylindrical vertical groove, as in a pillar, in plaited cloth, or in a rifle barrel to cut down the weight.
6. A long French bread roll, baguette.
7. An organ stop with a flute-like sound.
8. A shuttle in weaving tapestry etc.
verb
third-person singular simple present flutes, present participle fluting, simple past and past participle fluted
1. (intransitive) To play on a flute.
2. (intransitive) To make a flutelike sound.
  Quotations
  The green turf was velvet underfoot. The blackbirds fluted in the hazels there.
  1895, S. R. Crockett, A Cry Across the Black Water
3. (transitive) To utter with a flutelike sound.
  Quotations
  “Oh, there's my precious Poppet,” said Phyllis, as a distant barking reached the ears. “He's asking for his dinner, the sweet little angel. All right, darling, Mother's coming,” she fluted, and buzzed off on the errand of mercy.
  1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XIII, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins
4. (transitive) To form flutes or channels in (as in a column, a ruffle, etc.); to cut a semicylindrical vertical groove in (as in a pillar, etc.).

flute²

/fluːt/

noun
plural flutes
1. A kind of flyboat; a storeship.