flint

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noun \ ˈflint \

Definition of flint

1 :a massive hard dark quartz that produces a spark when struck by steel

2 :an implement of flint used in prehistoric cultures

3 a :a piece of flint

b :a material used for producing a spark; especially :an alloy (as of iron and cerium) used in lighters

4 :something resembling flint in hardness

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flintlike

play \ˈflint-ˌlīk\ adjective

See flint defined for English-language learners

See flint defined for kids

Examples of flint in a Sentence

the flint in a cigarette lighter

Recent Examples of flint from the Web

After a teacher training session over the summer, Jennifer Zacharias brought back some educational aids to share with her students — flint and steel fire starters, wig curlers and wooden needle holders.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "History teachers travel back in time to Colonial Williamsburg," 30 Aug. 2017
Manziel was all brash, rubbing his fingertips like flint to start fire.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "14 most polarizing Cleveland figures in city's sports history (photos)," 23 Aug. 2017
Here, within thick protective fortress walls made of limestone or sandstone or flint, the defenders could hole up for months.

— william gurstelle, Popular Mechanics, "How to Storm a Castle," 10 Aug. 2017
Stars burst behind her eyes, a flint of pain sharp in her nose.

— Longreads, "And How Much of These Hills Is Gold," 3 Aug. 2017
Flint knapping program at National Lakeshore Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore will host a flint knapping program from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Paul H. Douglas Center, 100 North Lake St., Gary.

— staff report, Post-Tribune, "Community news," 2 Aug. 2017
By Pat McDonogh, The C-J) Serious shooters make their own marbles out of flint, which doesn’t dent or shatter like glass.

— pat mcdonogh, The Courier-Journal, "Marble masters of Monroe County put spin on ancient competition," 1 Aug. 2017
On that day in 1776, the members of the Continental Congress gathered in a room and discussed a long list of things: the procurement of flint, the appointment of bureaucrats, the deployment of militias.

— avi selk, Washington Post, "U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s complaint about North Korea missile: ‘Spending my 4th in meetings’," 5 July 2017
There is no curbing—the pavement simply ends, and grass or hay bales begin—and one of the trickier sections is framed on one side by a solid flint wall.

— alexander stoklosa, Car and Driver, "We Drive the Fastest, Most Challenging Driveway: Goodwood’s Hill-Climb! [Video]," 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flint.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

It Isn't Hard to Learn the Meaning of flint

A somewhat impure variety of quartz, flint is usually gray to brown or nearly black in color. It is very hard, producing a spark when struck with steel. Flint provided one of the main sources of tools and weapons for Stone Age people. It is used today as an abrasive agent on sandpapers and in mills that grind raw materials for the ceramic and paint industries.

Origin and Etymology of flint

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German flins pebble, hard stone

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Archaeology Terms

Attic, Byzantine, Paleolithic, cairn, core, horizon, neolithic, shard, stratum

Flint

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biographical name \ ˈflint \

Definition of Flint

Austin: father 1812–1886 and son 1836–1915 American physicians

Flint

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geographical name \ ˈflint \

Definition of Flint

1 river 265 miles (426 kilometers) long in western Georgia flowing south and southwest into Lake Seminole

2 city in southeast central Michigan north-northwest of Detroit population 102,434

3 or Flintshire play \-ˌshir, -shər\ administrative area of northeastern Wales bordering England and the Irish Sea area 169 square miles (438 square kilometers), population 152,506

FLINT Defined for English Language Learners

flint

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noun

Definition of flint for English Language Learners

: a hard type of rock that produces a small piece of burning material (called a spark) when it is hit by steel
: a piece of flint
: a piece of metal used for producing a spark