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flatter

1
[ flat-er ]
/ ˈflæt ər /
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See synonyms for: flatter / flattered / flattering / flatterer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

to use flattery.

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Origin of flatter

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English flat(t)eren “to float, flutter, fawn upon,” Old English floterian “to float, flutter”; for sense development, cf. flicker1, Old Norse flathra; reinforced by Old French flatter “to flatter,” literally, “to stroke, caress” (probably from unattested Frankish flat- flat1)

OTHER WORDS FROM flatter

Definition for flatter (2 of 2)

flatter2
[ flat-er ]
/ ˈflæt ər /

noun

a person or thing that makes something flat.
a flat-faced blacksmith's tool, laid on a forging and struck with a hammer to smooth the surface of the forging.
a drawplate with a flat orifice for drawing flat metal strips, as for watch springs.

Origin of flatter

2
First recorded in 1705–15; flat1 + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to flatter

charm, fawn, salve, soften, stroke, wheedle, sweet-talk, toady, sell, court, snow, jolly, cajole, blandish, glorify, oil, adulate, humor, inveigle, grovel

Example sentences from the Web for flatter

British Dictionary definitions for flatter (1 of 2)

flatter1
/ (ˈflætə) /

verb

to praise insincerely, esp in order to win favour or reward
to show to advantagethat dress flatters her
(tr) to make to appear more attractive, etc, than in reality
to play upon or gratify the vanity of (a person)it flatters her to be remembered
(tr) to beguile with hope; encourage, esp falselythis success flattered him into believing himself a champion
(tr) to congratulate or deceive (oneself)I flatter myself that I am the best

Derived forms of flatter

flatterable, adjectiveflatterer, nounflatteringly, adverb

Word Origin for flatter

C13: probably from Old French flater to lick, fawn upon, of Frankish origin

British Dictionary definitions for flatter (2 of 2)

flatter2
/ (ˈflætə) /

noun

a blacksmith's tool, resembling a flat-faced hammer, that is placed on forged work and struck to smooth the surface of the forging
a die with a narrow rectangular orifice for drawing flat sections
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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