flatter flatter /ˈflætɝ/

verb

1. () Praise somewhat dishonestly  ( blandish , flatter )
   praise somewhat dishonestly
     He tried to flatter his boss in the hope of getting a raise.
   He tried to flatter his boss in the hope of getting a raise.
   

 flat flat /ˈflæt/

adjective

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

adverb

1. In a forthright manner; candidly or frankly  ( flat , directly , straight )
   in a forthright manner; candidly or frankly
    He didn't answer directly
   he didn't answer directly
    Told me straight out
   told me straight out
    Came out flat for less work and more pay
   came out flat for less work and more pay
   
2. With flat sails  ( flat )
   with flat sails
    Sail flat against the wind
   sail flat against the wind
   

noun

1. () A level tract of land  ( flat )
   a level tract of land
    The salt flats of Utah
   the salt flats of Utah
   
2. () A shallow box in which seedlings are started  ( flat )
   a shallow box in which seedlings are started
   
3. [British] A suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house  ( flat [British] , apartment )
   a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house
    She lives in a small but comfortable flat in the city center
   She lives in a small but comfortable flat in the city center
   
   
4. Scenery consisting of a wooden frame covered with painted canvas; part of a stage setting  ( flat )
   scenery consisting of a wooden frame covered with painted canvas; part of a stage setting
   
5. [ N. American] A deflated pneumatic tire  ( flat [ N. American] , flat tire [ N. American] , flat tyre [British] )
   a deflated pneumatic tire
   
6. [ N. American] Freight car without permanent sides or roof  ( flat [ N. American] , flatbed , flatcar [ N. American] )
   freight car without permanent sides or roof
   
   
7. A musical notation indicating one half step lower than the note named  ( flat )
   a musical notation indicating one half step lower than the note named
    The musician played a note that was a half-step lower than the original, using a flat symbol in the notation
   The musician played a note that was a half-step lower than the original, using a flat symbol in the notation