Definition of flat
flatter;
flattest
1 a
:lying at full length or spread out upon the ground :prostrate
- The soldiers were lying flat on the ground.
b
:utterly ruined or destroyed
- buildings flat from the blast
c
:resting with a surface against something
- Push the chairs flat against the wall.
2 a
:having a continuous horizontal surface
- the flat landscape of the prairie
b
:being or characterized by a horizontal line or tracing without peaks or depressions
- a flat EEG
3
:having a relatively smooth or even surface
- a flat computer disk
4
:arranged or laid out so as to be level or even
- maps flat on the desk
5 a
:having the major surfaces essentially parallel and distinctly greater than the minor surfaces
- a flat piece of wood
b
of a shoe heel
:very low and broad
- flat shoes for work
6 a
:clearly unmistakable
- a flat denial
7 a
:lacking in animation, zest, or vigor :dull
- He spoke in a flat, tired voice.
b
:lacking flavor :tasteless
- The stew is too flat.
c
:lacking effervescence or sparkle
- flat ginger ale
d
:commercially inactive;
also
:characterized by no significant rise or decline from one period to another
- sales were flat
8 a (1)
of a tone
:lowered a half step in pitch
(2)
:lower than the proper pitch
b
of the vowel a
:pronounced as in bad or bat
9 a
:having a low trajectory (see trajectory 1)
- made a flat pass that was intercepted
b
of a tennis stroke
:made so as to give little or no spin to the ball
10
:not having an inflectional ending
- flat adverbs
12 a
:uniform in hue or shade
- figures standing out against a background of flat wash
b
:having little or no illusion of depth
c
of a photograph or negative
:lacking contrast
d
of lighting conditions
:lacking shadows or contours
e
:free from gloss :having a nonreflective finish
- a flat paint
f
:two-dimensional 3
- flat characters
13
:of, relating to, or used in competition on the flat
- a flat horse
14
of a universe
:having a mass such that expansion halts only after infinite time and collapse never occurs
