English Explanatory Dictionary

lute

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A fretted stringed instrument, similar to the guitar, having a bowl-shaped body or soundbox; any of a wide variety of chordophones with a pear-shaped body and a neck whose upper surface is in the same plane as the soundboard, with strings along the neck and parallel to the soundboard.
verb
  1. To play on a lute, or as if on a lute.
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. A straight-edged piece of wood for striking off superfluous clay from earth.
verb
  1. To fix or fasten something with lute.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/l(j)uːt/ /lut/ /lɪu̯t/ en-uk-lute.ogg En-US pronunciation of "lute".ogg

Word forms

lute lutes luting luted

Etymology

From Middle French lut (modern luth), from Old French leüt, probably from Old Occitan laüt, from Arabic اَلْعُود (al-ʕūd, “wood”) (probably representing an Andalusian Arabic or North African pronunciation). Doublet of oud, lavta, and laouto.

Related words

archlute lutanist lutenist luter lutherie luthier lutist barbiton barbitos guembri guqin mandola mandolin oud pipa rebab samisen shamisen theorbo

Derived words

angel lute archlute bowl lute German lute lute-backed lutefish lute guitar lutelike lutemaker lutemaking lutite mandolute spike lute yoke lute belute fat lute unlute lutation luter
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