flue

¹

[ floo ]

noun

1. a passage or duct for smoke in a chimney.
2. any duct or passage for air, gas, or the like.
3. a tube, especially a large one, in a fire-tube boiler.
4. Music.
   1. flue pipe.
   2. Also called windway. a narrow slit in the upper end of an organ pipe through which the air current is directed.

flue

²

[ floo ]

noun

1. downy matter; fluff.

flue

³

or flew

[ floo ]

noun

1. a fishing net.

flue

¹

/ fluː /

noun

1. another word for fluke 1 fluke 1

flue

²

/ fluː /

noun

1. a shaft, tube, or pipe, esp as used in a chimney, to carry off smoke, gas, etc
2. music the passage in an organ pipe or flute within which a vibrating air column is set up See also flue pipe

flue

³

/ fluː /

noun

1. a type of fishing net

flue

⁴

/ fluː /

noun

1. loose fluffy matter; down

Derived Forms

• flued, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of flue¹

First recorded in 1555–65; earlier flew; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old English flēwsa “a flowing, flux,” the form flews being taken as plural

Origin of flue²

First recorded in 1580–90; of uncertain origin; perhaps from Old English flug- (in flugol “swift, fleeting”); perhaps from Flemish Dutch vluwe, from French velu “hairy, downy”; velvet ( def )

Origin of flue³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English flue, flowe, flew, from Middle Dutch vl(o)uwe “fishing net”; akin to Old English flōwan flow ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of flue¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of flue²

Middle English, from Middle Dutch vlūwe

Origin of flue³

C16: from Flemish vluwe , from Old French velu shaggy

Example Sentences

While renewable energy sources are already reducing the need for CO2-emitting, fossil fuel-burning power plants, industrial plants that make intense use of fossil fuels are harder to make sustainable, so flue gas capture is essential.

From Science Daily

The home’s boiler was serviced in July this year, a flue was replaced, and it passed checks, the BBC understands.

From BBC

California health officials are investigating a possible case of H5N1 bird flue infection in a person who had contact with dairy cows in the Central Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

Furthermore, the presence of oxygen impurities in flue gas results in undesired side reactions, which significantly reduces the efficiency of the CO2 reduction process.

From Science Daily

The school's principal, David Scales, said checks included looking at driveways, boiler flues and lights.

From BBC

Related Words

• chimney
• duct