flatter Hear it!

flatter1 definition

flat·ter (flatər)

transitive verb

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

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

intransitive verb

to use flattery

Related Forms:

flatter Idioms

flatter oneself

to hold the self-satisfying or self-deluding belief (that)
flatter2 definition

flat·ter (flatər)

noun

  1. a person who flattens something
  2. a drawplate for forming flat strips
  3. a smith's forging tool with a broad, flat face
flatter3 definition

flat·ter (flatər)

adjective, adverb

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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