flatter; flattest
Definition of flat
(Entry 1 of 4)
1a : 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.
2a : 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
5a : 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
6a : clearly unmistakable
a flat denial
7a : 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
8a(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
9a : having a low trajectory (see trajectory sense 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
12a : 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 sense 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
flat
nounDefinition of flat (Entry 2 of 4)
1a : a level surface of land
—usually used in pluralsagebrush flatstidal flats
b : a stretch of land without obstacles especially : a track or course for a flat race —usually used with the has won twice on the flat
2 : a flat part or surface
the flat of one's hand
3a : a musical note or tone one half step lower than a specified note or tone
b : a character ♭ on a line or space of the musical staff indicating a half step drop in pitch
4 : something flat: such as
a : a shallow container for shipping produce
b : a shallow box in which seedlings are started
c : a flat piece of theatrical scenery
d : a shoe or slipper having a flat heel or no heel
5 chiefly British : an apartment on one floor
6 : a deflated tire
7 : the area to either side of an offensive football formation
flat
adverbDefinition of flat (Entry 3 of 4)
1 : in a flat manner : directly, positively
2 : in a complete manner : absolutely flat broke
3 : below the proper musical pitch
4 : without interest charge especially : without allowance or charge for accrued interest bonds sold flat
flat
verbflatted; flatting
Definition of flat (Entry 4 of 4)
: to sing or play below the true pitch
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Time Traveler for flat
The first known use of flat was in the 14th century
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