flirt

[flurt]

verb (used without object)

1. to court triflingly or act amorously without serious intentions; play at love; coquet.

   Synonyms: dally, tease

2. to trifle or toy, as with an idea.

   She flirted with the notion of buying a sports car.

   Synonyms: dally

3. to move with a jerk or jerks; dart about.

   butterflies flirting from flower to flower.

verb (used with object)

1. to give a sudden or brisk motion to; wave smartly, as a fan.

2. to throw or propel with a toss or jerk; fling suddenly.

noun

1. Also flirter. a person who is given to flirting.

   Synonyms: tease, coquette, minx

2. a quick throw or toss; sudden jerk or darting motion.

flirt

/ flɜːt /

verb

1. (intr) to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections; dally

2. to deal playfully or carelessly (with something dangerous or serious); trifle

   the motorcyclist flirted with death

3. to think casually (about); toy (with)

   to flirt with the idea of leaving

4. (intr) to move jerkily; dart; flit

5. (tr) to subject to a sudden swift motion; flick or toss

noun

1. a person who acts flirtatiously

Other Word Forms

• flirtingly adverb
• flirty adjective
• flirter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirt¹

First recorded in 1540–50; of expressive origin; compare similar initial cluster in flap, flick ¹, flip ¹ and final elements of squirt, spurt

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirt¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

We’ve already chewed our fingernails off over these, and the stock market keeps flirting with new highs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Tina feels friendly right now as stocks flirt with record highs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His constant flirting with the idea of a third term in office does that, as does his legal challenge to birthright citizenship and his military’s penchant for blasting alleged drug vessels out of international waters.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There’s a huge barrage of news that has hit investors this week, but the bigger picture is that the stock market is flirting with records at a time when faith in the economy is eroding.

Read more on MarketWatch

Knight and Beaumont flirted outside the off stump, Sciver-Brunt gave some hope with a fluent 64 but the game went with her, and therein lies the gulf between England and the best.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• tease