I. ˈflat adjective
( flat·ter ; flat·test )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse flatr; akin to Old High German flaz flat, and probably to Greek platys broad — more at place
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : lying at full length or spread out upon the ground : prostrate
b. : utterly ruined or destroyed
c. : resting with a surface against something
2.
a. : having a continuous horizontal surface
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
4. : arranged or laid out so as to be level or even
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
6.
a. : clearly unmistakable : downright
a flat denial
b.
(1) : not varying : fixed
a flat rate
(2) : having no fraction either lacking or in excess : exact
in a flat 10 seconds
(3) of a frequency response : not varying significantly throughout its range
7.
a. : lacking in animation, zest, or vigor : dull
life seemed flat without her
b. : lacking flavor : tasteless
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
e. of a tire : lacking air : deflated
f. chiefly British , of a battery : dead 3c, discharged
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
b. of a tennis stroke : made so as to give little or no spin to the ball
10. of a sail : taut
11.
a. : uniform in hue or shade
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
a flat paint
f. : two-dimensional 3
flat characters
12. : of, relating to, or used in competition on the flat
a flat horse
13. of a universe : having a mass such that expansion halts only after infinite time and collapse never occurs
Synonyms: see level , insipid
• flat·ly adverb
• flat·ness noun
• flat·tish ˈfla-tish adjective
II. noun
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a level surface of land — usually used in plural
sagebrush flat s
tidal flat s
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
3.
a. : 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: 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
III. adverb
Date: 1531
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
IV. verb
( flat·ted ; flat·ting )
Date: circa 1604
transitive verb
1. : flatten
2. : to lower in pitch especially by a half step
intransitive verb
: to sing or play below the true pitch