flute (subs.) Copy link Outline I. The musical instrument1. tībia2. ărundo, ĭnis, f. (made of oat or reed)II. In architecture; an indented channel • flute (subs.): I. The musical instrument: 1. tībia: the shrill f., acris t., Hor.: the plaintive f., querula t., Hor.: Cic. The tibia was originally a small, shrill instrument, with one tube (tenuis simplexque), Hor. A. P. 202: afterwards it was made larger and double. Hence the plur. is frequent, referring to the two tubes: to play on the f., tibiis canere, Quint. 1, 10, 14: cantare tibiis, Nep. Epam. 2. A f.-maker, tībiārius, Inscr. in Forcell.: f.-player (masc.), tībīcen, ĭnis, m.: Pl.: Cic.: fem., tībīcĭna, Pl.: Ter. 2. ărundo, ĭnis, f. (made of oat or reed): Ov.: v. reed, pipe. II. In architecture; an indented channel: stria, Vitr. 4, 3, 9.