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Flute vs Piano - What's the difference?

flute | piano |

In musical instruments terms the difference between flute and piano

is that flute is a woodwind instrument consisting of a metal, wood or bamboo tube with a row of circular holes and played by blowing across a hole in the side of one end or through a narrow channel at one end against a sharp edge, while covering none, some or all of the holes with the fingers to vary the note played while piano is a keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings.

As a verb flute

is to play on a flute.

As an adjective piano is

soft, quiet.

As an adverb piano is

softly, as a musical direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music).

flute

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) flaute, from (etyl) flaut, ultimately from three possibilities: * Blend of Provencal * From Latin * Imitative.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (musical instruments) A woodwind instrument consisting of a metal, wood or bamboo tube with a row of circular holes and played by blowing across a hole in the side of one end or through a narrow channel at one end against a sharp edge, while covering none, some or all of the holes with the fingers to vary the note played.
  • * Alexander Pope
    • The breathing flute's soft notes are heard around.
  • A glass with a long, narrow bowl and a long stem, used for drinking wine, especially champagne.
  • a lengthwise groove, such as one of the lengthwise grooves on a can escape
  • (architecture, firearms) A semicylindrical vertical groove, as in a pillar, in plaited cloth, or in a rifle barrel to cut down the weight.
  • A long French bread roll.
    • (Simmonds)
  • An organ stop with a flute-like sound.
    • Derived terms
    * pan flute * skin flute
    Related terms
    * flageolet
    See also
    * bansuri

    Verb

  • To play on a .
  • To make a flutelike sound.
  • To utter with a flutelike sound.
  • *
  • 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.).
    • Related terms
    * champagne flute * flautist * fluted

    Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) ?, (etyl) fluit.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A kind of flyboat; a storeship.

    • External links

    * (wikipedia "flute") * ----

    piano

    English

    (wikipedia piano)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (musical instruments) A keyboard musical instrument, usually ranging over seven octaves, with white and black keys, played by pressing these keys, causing hammers to strike strings.
    • The piano in his house takes up a lot of space.
    She has been taking lessons for many years and now plays piano very well.
    He can play "Happy Birthday" on the piano .
    Most of the works by Frédéric Chopin are for the piano .

    Synonyms

    * pianoforte (dated)

    Coordinate terms

    * (keyboard instrument) cembalo, clavier, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, synthesizer, synth

    Derived terms

    * dumb piano * electric piano * grand piano * pianola * pianist * piano accordion * piano player * player piano * square piano * upright piano

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (music) Soft, quiet.
  • In extended use; quiet, subdued.
  • * 1977 , , The Honourable Schoolboy , Folio Society 2010, p. 160:
    • ‘Tradecraft'', Chris,’ Enderby put in, who liked his bit of jargon, and Martindale, still ''piano , shot him a glance of admiration.

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (music) Softly, as a musical direction (abbreviated to p. in sheet music).

    • Related terms

    * mezzo piano * mp * pianissimo * pp