/ flɜːt; NAmE flɜːrt/ verb , noun
■ verb
[ v ] flirt (with sb) to behave towards sb as if you find them sexually attractive, without seriously wanting to have a relationship with them
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PHRASAL VERBS
- flirt with sth
■ noun
[ usually sing. ] a person who flirts with a lot of people :
She's a real flirt.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: apparently symbolic, the elements fl- and -irt both suggesting sudden movement; compare with flick and spurt . The original verb senses were give someone a sharp blow and sneer at ; the earliest noun senses were joke, jibe and flighty girl (defined by Dr Johnson as a pert young hussey ), with a notion originally of cheeky behaviour, later of playfully amorous behaviour.