flat1
adj.
(flatter, flattest)
- having a level surface; without raised areas or indentations.
▸not sloping.
▸having a broad level surface but little height or depth:
a flat box.
▸(of shoes) without high heels.
- dull; lifeless:
a flat voice.
▸showing little or no activity:
sales were flat.
▸(of a photograph) lacking contrast.
- (of a sparkling drink) having lost its effervescence.
- Brit. (of a battery) having exhausted its charge.
- (of something kept inflated) having lost some or all of its air.
- (of a fee, charge, or price) unvarying; fixed:
a flat rate of £250.
- (of a negative statement) definite and firm:
a flat denial.
- (of musical sound) below true or normal pitch.
▸
[postpos.]
(of a key) having a flat or flats in the signature.
▸
[postpos.]
(of a note) a semitone lower than a specified note.
adv.
- in or to a horizontal position.
▸lying in close juxtaposition to a surface.
▸so as to become level and even.
- informal completely; absolutely:
I'm turning you down flat.
- emphasizing the speed of an action or task:
prepare a meal in ten minutes flat.
- below the true or normal pitch of musical sound.
n.
- the flat part of something.
▸
(flats)
shoes with a very low heel or no heel.
-
(flats)
an area of low level ground, especially near water.
- informal a flat tyre.
- an upright section of stage scenery.
-
(the Flat)
Brit. flat racing.
- a musical note lowered a semitone below natural pitch.
▸the sign (♭) indicating this.
- N. Amer. a shallow container in which seedlings are grown.
v.
(flats, flatting, flatted)
-
[usu. as adj. flatted]
N. Amer. Music lower (a note) by a semitone.
- archaic flatten.
Phrase
- fall flat
fail to produce the intended effect. - flat out
- as fast or as hard as possible.
- informal, chiefly N. Amer. unequivocally.
- lying down in a state of exhaustion.
Derivative
- flatly adv.
- flatness n.
- flattish adj.
Etymology
ME: from ON flatr.
flat2
n.
chiefly Brit. a set of rooms comprising an individual place of residence within a larger building.
v.
(flats, flatting, flatted)
Austral./NZ live in or share a flat.
Phrase
- go flatting
Austral./NZ leave one's family home to live in a flat.
Derivative
Etymology
C19: alt. of obs. flet ‘floor, dwelling’, of Gmc origin and rel. to flat1.