Lute

Pronunciation

• IPA: /luːt/
• Rhymes: -uːt
• Homophones: loot

From Middle French lut (modern luth), from Old French leüt, probably from Old Provencal laüt, from Arabic العود (al-‘ūd, "wood") (probably representing an Andalusian Arabic or North African pronunciation).

Full definition of lute

Noun

1. A fretted stringed instrument, similar to a guitar, having a bowl-shaped body or soundbox.

Related terms

• archlute
• lutanist, lutenist
• lutherie
• luthier
• lutist

Verb

1. To play on a lute, or as if on a lute.
• TennysonKnaves are men
  That lute and flute fantastic tenderness.

From Old French lut, ultimately from Latin lutum ("mud").

Noun

1. Thick sticky clay or cement used to close up a hole or gap, especially to make something air-tight.
2. A packing ring, as of rubber, for fruit jars, etc.
3. (brickmaking) A straight-edged piece of wood for striking off superfluous clay from mould.

Verb

1. To fix or fasten something with lute.
• 1888, Rudyard Kipling, ‘A Friend's Friend’, Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio Society 2005, p. 179:To protect everything till it dried, a man ... luted a big blue paper cap from a cracker, with meringue-cream, low down on Jevon's forehead.

Anagrams

• tule