Dictionaries › English

flatter

Pronunciation: /ˈflætɚ/

The English word “flatter” has 11 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. To compliment someone, often (but not necessarily) insincerely and sometimes to win favour.
  2. To enhance or gratify someone's vanity by praising them.
  3. To portray someone to advantage.
  4. To encourage or cheer someone with (usually false) hope.
  5. To cheer or please (with the idea that); congratulate oneself, especially when the perception is false.
  6. In phrasal verb "to flatter with": to encourage, inspire with hope.

noun

  1. A type of set tool used by blacksmiths.
  2. A flat-faced fulling hammer.
  3. A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips such as watch springs.
  4. Someone who flattens, purposely or accidentally. Also flattener.
  5. Someone who lives in a rented flat.

Etymology

From flat + -er (comparative suffix). Compare Icelandic flatari (“flatter, more flat”).

Keep exploring: in the interactive dictionary every word of a definition is a link. Open “flatter” there

More English words

About this dictionary

The English dictionary on Glottosphere has 650,529 entries with a page. Browse the English dictionary.

Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.