flatter

Flatter is defined as to praise or compliment.

(verb)

An example of flatter is to tell someone that she looks pretty today.

See flatter in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to praise too much, untruly, or insincerely, as in order to win favor
to try to please, or ingratiate oneself with, by praise and attention
to make seem better or more attractive than is so: his portrait flatters him
to make feel pleased or honored; gratify the vanity of: it's flattering to be remembered
to please or gratify (the eye, ear, senses, etc.)
to encourage, esp. falsely

Origin: ME flateren < OFr flater, to smooth, caress with flat hand < Frank *flat, akin to OHG flaz, flat

intransitive verb

to use flattery

Related Forms:

noun

adjective, adverb

flat

See flatter in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb flat·tered, flat·ter·ing, flat·ters

verb, transitive

To compliment excessively and often insincerely, especially in order to win favor.
To please or gratify the vanity of: “What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering” (George Bernard Shaw).
a. To portray favorably: a photograph that flatters its subject.
b. To show off becomingly or advantageously.

verb, intransitive

To practice flattery.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English flateren

Origin: , from Old French flater

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see plat- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: