flatter Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb praise somewhat dishonestly
    blandish.
  2. adjective satellite having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
    flat; plane; level.
    • a flat desk
    • acres of level farmland
    • a plane surface
    • skirts sewn with fine flat seams
  3. adjective satellite having a relatively broad surface in relation to depth or thickness
    flat.
    • flat computer monitors
  4. adjective satellite not modified or restricted by reservations
    flat; categoric; unconditional; categorical.
    • a categorical denial
    • a flat refusal
  5. adjective satellite stretched out and lying at full length along the ground
    flat; prostrate.
    • found himself lying flat on the floor
  6. adjective lacking contrast or shading between tones
    flat.
  7. adjective (of a musical note) lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone
    flat.
    • B flat
  8. adjective satellite flattened laterally along the whole length (e.g., certain leafstalks or flatfishes)
    flat; compressed.
  9. adjective satellite lacking taste or flavor or tang
    flat; vapid; flavorless; insipid; savorless; savourless; bland; flavourless.
    • a bland diet
    • insipid hospital food
    • flavorless supermarket tomatoes
    • vapid beer
    • vapid tea
  10. adjective satellite lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting
    bland; flat.
    • a bland little drama
    • a flat joke
  11. adjective satellite having lost effervescence
    flat.
    • flat beer
    • a flat cola
  12. adjective satellite sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch
    monotonous; flat; monotonic; monotone.
    • the owl's faint monotonous hooting
  13. adjective satellite horizontally level
    flat.
    • a flat roof
  14. adjective satellite lacking the expected range or depth; not designed to give an illusion or depth
    flat; 2-dimensional; two-dimensional.
    • a film with two-dimensional characters
    • a flat two-dimensional painting
  15. adjective satellite not reflecting light; not glossy
    flat; matt; matte; mat; matted.
    • flat wall paint
    • a photograph with a matte finish
  16. adjective satellite commercially inactive
    flat.
    • flat sales for the month
    • prices remained flat
    • a flat market

WordNet

Flat"ter noun
Definitions
  1. One who, or that which, makes flat or flattens.
  2. (Metal Working) (a) A flat-faced fulling hammer. (b) A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips, as watch springs, etc.
Flat"ter transitive verb
Etymology
OE. flateren, cf. OD. flatteren; akin to G. flattern to flutter, Icel. flara to fawn, flatter: cf. F. flatter. Cf. Flitter, Flutter, Flattery.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Flattered ; present participle & verbal noun Flattering
Definitions
  1. To treat with praise or blandishments; to gratify or attempt to gratify the self-love or vanity of, esp. by artful and interested commendation or attentions; to blandish; to cajole; to wheedle.
    When I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered. Shak.
    A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. xxix. 5.
    Others he flattered by asking their advice. Prescott.
  2. To raise hopes in; to encourage or favorable, but sometimes unfounded or deceitful, representations.
  3. To portray too favorably; to give a too favorable idea of; as, his portrait flatters him.
Flat"ter intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To use flattery or insincere praise.
    If it may stand him more in stead to lie, Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or adjure. Milton.

Webster 1913