FLABBERGASTATIONFlab`ber*gas*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being flabbergasted. [Jocular] London Punch.
FLABBILYFlab"bi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flabby manner.
FLABBINESSFlab"bi*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being flabby.
FLABBYFlab"by, a. Etym: [See Flap.]
Defn: Yielding to the touch, and easily moved or shaken; hanging loose by its own weight; wanting firmness; flaccid; as, flabby flesh.
FLABEL Fla"bel, n. Etym: [L. flabellum a fan, dim. of flabrum a breeze, fr. flare to blow.]
Defn: A fan. [Obs.] Huloet.
FLABELLATE Fla*bel"late, a. Etym: [L. flabellatus, p.p. of flabellare to fan, fr. flabellum. See Flabbel.] (Bot.)
Defn: Flabelliform.
FLABELLATIONFlab`el*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act of keeping fractured limbs cool by the use of a fan or some other contrivance. Dunglison.
FLABELLIFORM Fla*bel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. flabellum a fan + -fform: cf. F. flabeliforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a fan; fan-shaped; flabellate.
FLABELLINERVEDFla*bel"li*nerved`, a. Etym: [L. flabellum a fan + E. nerve.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many nerves diverging radiately from the base; — said of a leaf.
FLABELLUMFla*bel"lum, n. Etym: [L. See Flabel.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A fan; especially, the fan carried before the pope on state occasions, made in ostrich and peacock feathers. Shipley.
FLABILEFlab"ile, a. Etym: [L. flabilis.]
Defn: Liable to be blown about. Bailey.
FLACCID Flac"cid, a. Etym: [L. flaccidus, fr. flaccus flabby: cf. OF. flaccide.]
Defn: Yielding to pressure for want of firmness and stiffness; softand weak; limber; lax; drooping; flabby; as, a flaccid muscle;flaccid flesh.Religious profession . . . has become flacced. I. Taylor.— Flac"cid*ly, adv.— Flac"cid*ness, n.
FLACCIDITYFlac*cid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flaccidité.]
Defn: The state of being flaccid.
FLACHERIEFlache`rie" (flash`re"), n. [F.]
Defn: A bacterial disease of silkworms, supposed to be due to eating contaminated mulberry leaves.
FLACKER Flack"er, v. i. Etym: [OE. flakeren, fr. flacken to move quickly to and fro; cf. icel. flakka to rove about, AS. flacor fluttering, flying, G. flackern to flare, flicker.]
Defn: To flutter, as a bird. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
FLACKET Flack"et, n. Etym: [OF. flasquet little flask, dim. of flasque a flask.]
Defn: A barrel-shaped bottle; a flagon.
FLACONFla"con (fla"kôn), n. [F. See Flagon.]
Defn: A small glass bottle; as, a flacon for perfume. "Two glass flacons for the ink." Longfellow.
FLAGFlag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Flagging.] Etym:[Cf. Icel. flaka to droop, hang loosely. Cf. Flacker, Flag anensign.]
1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp. As loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast. T. Moore.
2. To droop; to grow spiritless; to lose vigor; to languish; as, the spirits flag; the streugth flags. The pleasures of the town begin to flag. Swift.
Syn.— To droop; decline; fail; languish; pine.
FLAGFlag, v. t.
1. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness; as, to flag the wings. prior.
2. To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of. Nothing so flags the spirits. Echard.
FLAGFlag, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. & G. flagge, Sw. flagg, Dan. flag, D. vlag.See Flag to hang loose.]
1. That which flags or hangs down loosely.
2. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; — commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc. (b) A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks. (c) The bushy tail of a dog, as of a setter. Black flag. See under Black. — Flag captain, Flag leutenant, etc., special officers attached to the flagship, as aids to the flag officer. — Flag officer, the commander of a fleet or squadron; an admiral, or commodore. — Flag of truse, a white flag carried or displayed to an enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some communication not hostile. — Flag share, the flag officer's share of prize money. — Flag station (Railroad), a station at which trains do not stop unless signaled to do so, by a flag hung out or waved. — National flag, a flag of a particular country, on which some national emblem or device, is emblazoned. — Red flag, a flag of a red color, displayed as a signal of danger or token of defiance; the emblem of anarchists. — To dip, the flag, to mlower it and quickly restore it to its place; — done as a mark of respect. — To hang out the white flag, to ask truce or quarter, or, in some cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a white flag. — To hang the flag half-mast high or half-staff, to raise it only half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of mourning. — To strike, or lower, the flag, to haul it down, in token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender. — Yellow flag, the quarantine flag of all nations; also carried at a vessel's fore, to denote that an infectious disease is on board.
FLAGFlag, v. t. Etym: [From Flag an ensign.]
1. To signal to with a flag; as, to flag a train.
2. To convey, as a message, by means of flag signals; as, to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance.
FLAGFlag, n. Etym: [From Flag to hang loose, to bend down.] (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic plant, with long, ensiform leaves, belonging toeither of the genera Iris and Acorus. Cooper's flag, the cat-tail(Typha latifolia), the long leaves of which are placed between thestaves of barrels to make the latter water-tight.— Corn flag. See under 2d Corn.— Flag broom, a coarse of broom, originally made of flags orrushes.— Flag root, the root of the sweet flag.— Sweet flag. See Calamus, n., 2.
FLAGFlag, v. t.
Defn: To furnish or deck out with flags.
FLAG Flag, n. Etym: [Icel. flaga, cf. Icel. flag spot where a turf has been cut out, and E. flake layer, scale. Cf. Floe.]
1. A flat stone used for paving. Woodward.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.
FLAGFlag, v. t.
Defn: To lay with flags of flat stones.The sides and floor are all flagged with . . . marble. Sandys.
FLAGELLANT Flag"el*lant, n. Etym: [L. flagellans, p.p. of flagellare: cf.F. flagellant. See Flagellate.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a fanatical sect which flourished in Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries, and maintained that flagellation was of equal virtue with baptism and the sacrament; — called also disciplinant.
FLAGELLATAFlag`el*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr.L. flagellatus, p. p. SeeFlagellate, v. t.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Infusoria, having one or two long, whiplike cilia, at the anterior end. It includes monads. See Infusoria, and Monad.
FLAGELLATE Flag"el*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flagellated; p. pr. & vb. n. Flagellating.] Etym: [L. flagellatus, p.p. of flagellare to scoure, fr. flagellum whip, dim. of flagrum whip, scoure; cf. fligere to strike. Cf. Flall.]
Defn: To whip; to scourge; to flog.
FLAGELLATEFla*gel"late, a.
1. Flagelliform.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Flagellata.
FLAGELLATIONFlag`el*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. flagellatio: cf. F. flagellation.]
Defn: A beating or flogging; a whipping; a scourging. Garth.
FLAGELLATORFlag"el*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who practices flagellation; one who whips or scourges.
FLAGELLIFORMFla*gel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. flagellum a whip + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a whiplash; long, slender, round, flexible, and (comming) tapering.
FLAGELLUMFla*gel"lum, n.; pl. E. Flagellums, L. Flagella. Etym: [L., a whip.See Flagellate, v. t.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A young, flexible shoot of a plant; esp., the long trailing branch of a vine, or a slender branch in certain mosses.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A long, whiplike cilium. See Flagellata. (b) An appendage of the reproductive apparatus of the snail. (c) A lashlike appendage of a crustacean, esp. the terminal ortion of the antennæ and the epipodite of the maxilipeds. See Maxilliped.
FLAGEOLETFlag"eo*let`, n. Etym: [F. flageolet, dim. of OF. flaj (as if fr. aLL. flautio;us), of flaüte, flahute, F. fl. See Flute.] (Mus.)
Defn: A small wooden pipe, having six or more holes, and a mouthpiece inserted at one end. It produces a shrill sound, softer than of the piccolo flute, and is said to have superseded the old recorder. Flageolet tones (Mus.), the naturel harmonics or overtones of stringed instruments.
FLAGGINESSFlag"gi*ness, n.
Defn: The condition of being flaggy; laxity; limberness. Johnson.
FLAGGINGFlag"ging, n.
Defn: A pavement or sidewalk of flagstones; flagstones, collectively.
FLAGGINGFlag"ging, a.
Defn: Growing languid, weak, or spiritless; weakening; delaying.— Flag"ging*ly, adv.
FLAGGYFlag"gy, a.
1. Weak; flexible; limber. "Flaggy wings." Spenser.
2. Tasteless; insipid; as, a flaggy apple. [Obs.] Bacon.
FLAGGYFlag"gy, a. Etym: [From 5th Flag.]
Defn: Abounding with the plant called flag; as, a flaggy marsh.
FLAGITATEFlag"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. flagitatus, p.p. of flagitare to demand.See Flagitious.]
Defn: To importune; to demand fiercely or with passion. [Archaic]Carcyle.
FLAGITATIONFlag`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. flagitatio.]
Defn: Importunity; urgent demand. [Archaic] Carlyle.
FLAGITIOUS Fla*gi"tious, a. Etym: [L. flagitiosus, fr. flagitium a shameful or disgraceful act, orig., a burning desire, heat of passion, from flagitare to demand hotly, fiercely; cf. flagrare to burn, E. flagrant.]
1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; shameful; — said of acts, crimes, etc. Debauched principles and flagitious practices. I. Taylor.
2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; — said of persons. Pope.
3. Characterized by scandalous crimes or vices; as, flagitious times. Pope.
Syn.— Atrocious; villainous; flagrant; heinous; corrupt; profligate;abandoned. See Atracious.— Fla*gi"tious*ly, adv.— Fla*gi"tious*ness, n.A sentence so flagitiously unjust. Macaulay.
FLAGMANFlag"man, n.; pl. Flagmen (.
Defn: One who makes signals with a flag.
FLAGON Flag"on, n. Etym: [F. flacon, for flascon, fr. OF. flasche, from LL. flasco. See Flask.]
Defn: A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass. A trencher of mutton chops, and a flagon of ale. Macaulay.
FLAGRANCEFla"grance, n.
Defn: Flagrancy. Bp. Hall.
FLAGRANCYFla"gran*cy, n.; pl. Flagrancies. Etym: [L. flagrantia a burning. SeeFlagrant.]
1. A burning; great heat; inflammation. [Obs.] Lust causeth a flagrancy in the eyes. Bacon.
2. The condition or quality of being flagrant; atrocity; heiniousness; enormity; excess. Steele.
FLAGRANT Fla"grant, a. Etym: [L. flagrans, -antis, p.pr. of flagrate to burn, akin to Gr. flagrant. Cf. Flame, Phlox.]
1. Flaming; inflamed; glowing; burning; ardent.The beadle's lash still flagrant on their back. Prior.A young man yet flagrant from the lash of the executioner or thebeadle. De Quincey.Flagrant desires and affections. Hooker.
2. Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on hotly; raging. A war the most powerful of the native tribes was flagrant. Palfrey.
3. Flaming into notice; notorious; enormous; heinous; glaringly wicked.
Syn.— Atrocious; flagitious; glaring. See Atrocious.
FLAGRANTLYFla"grant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flagrant manner.
FLAGRATEFla"grate, v. t. Etym: [L. flagrare, flagratum, v.i. & t., to burn.]
Defn: To burn. [Obs.] Greenhill.
FLAGRATIONFla*gra"tion, n.
Defn: A conflagration. [Obs.]
FLAGSHIPFlag"ship`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.
FLAGSTAFFFlag"staff`, n.; pl. -staves ( or -staffs (.
Defn: A staff on which a flag is hoisted.
FLAGSTONEFlag"stone`, n.
Defn: A flat stone used in paving, or any rock which will split into such stones. See Flag, a stone.
FLAGWORMFlag"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A worm or grub found among flags and sedge.
FLAIL Flail, n. Etym: [L. flagellum whip, scourge, in LL., a threshing flail: cf. OF. flael, flaiel, F. fléau. See Flagellum.]
1. An instrument for threshing or beating grain from the ear by hand, consisting of a wooden staff or handle, at the end of which a stouter and shorter pole or club, called a swipe, is so hung as to swing freely. His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn. Milton.
2. An ancient military weapon, like the common flail, often having the striking part armed with rows of spikes, or loaded. Fairholt. No citizen thought himself safe unless he carried under his coat a small flail, loaded with lead, to brain the Popish assassins. Macaulay.
FLAILYFlail"y, a.
Defn: Acting like a flail. [Obs.] Vicars.
FLAINFlain, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Flay. Chaucer.
FLAIRFlair (flâr), n. [OE. flaireodor, fr. OF. & F. flair, fr. OF.flairier, F. flairer, to smell, LL. flagrare for L. fragrare. SeeFlagrant.]
1. Smell; odor. [Obs.]
2. Sense of smell; scent; fig., discriminating sense.
FLAKEFlake, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. flaki, fleki, Dan. flage, D. vlaak.]
1. A paling; a hurdle. [prov. Eng.]
2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things. You shall also, after they be ripe, neither suffer them to have straw nor fern under them, but lay them either upon some smooth table, boards, or flakes of wands, and they will last the longer. English Husbandman.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on in calking, etc.
FLAKEFlake, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. flakna to flake off, split, flagna toflake off, Sw. flaga flaw, flake, flake plate, Dan. flage snowflake.Cf. Flag a flat stone.]
1. A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, tallow, or fish. "Lottle flakes of scurf." Addison. Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat. Evelyn.
2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash. With flakes of ruddy fire. Somerville.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes. Flake knife (Archæol.), a cutting instrument used by savage tribes, made of a flake or chip of hard stone. Tylor. — Flake stand, the cooling tub or vessel of a still worm. Knight. — Flake white. (Paint.) (a) The purest white lead, in the form of flakes or scales. (b) The trisnitrate of bismuth. Ure.
FLAKEFlake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaking.]
Defn: To form into flakes. Pope.
FLAKEFlake, v. i.
Defn: To separate in flakes; to peel or scale off.
FLAKINESSFlak"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being flaky.
FLAKYFlak"y, a.
Defn: Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, orcleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires! Watts.A flaky weight of winter's purest snows. Wordsworth.
FLAMFlam, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. fleám, fl, floght. sq. root 84 . Cf.Flimflam.]
Defn: A freak or whim; also, a falsehood; a lie; an illusory pretext; deception; delusion. [Obs.] A perpetual abuse and flam upon posterity. South.
FLAMFlam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flammed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flamming.]
Defn: To deceive with a falsehood. [Obs.]God is not to be flammed off with lies. South.
FLAMBE Flam`bé", a. [F., p.p. of flamber to singe, pass (a thing) through flame. Cf. Flambeau.] (Ceramics)
Defn: Decorated by glaze splashed or irregularly spread upon the surface, or apparently applied at the top and allowed to run down the sides; — said of pieces of Chinese porcelain.
FLAMBEAU Flam"beau; n.; pl. Flambeaux or Flambeaus. Etym: [F., fr. OF. flambe flame, for flamble, from L. flammula a little flame, dim. of flamma flame. See Flame.]
Defn: A flaming torch, esp. one made by combining together a number of thick wicks invested with a quick-burning substance (anciently, perhaps, wax; in modern times, pitch or the like); hence, any torch.
FLAMBOYANTFlam*boy"ant, a. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: Characterized by waving or flamelike curves, as in the tracery of windows, etc.; — said of the later (15th century) French Gothic style.
FLAMBOYERFlam*boy"er, n. Etym: [F. flamboyer to be bright.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name given in the East and West Indies to certain trees with brilliant blossoms, probably species of Cæsalpinia.
FLAMEFlame, n. Etym: [OE. flame, flaume, flaumbe, OF. flame, flambe, F.flamme, fr. L. flamma, fr. flamma, fr. flagrare to burn. SeeFlagrant, and cf. Flamneau, Flamingo.]
1. A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
2. Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing imagination; passionate excitement or anger. "In a flame of zeal severe." Milton. Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow. Pope. Smit with the love of sister arts we came, And met congenial, mingling flame with flame. Pope.
3. Ardor of affection; the passion of love. Coleridge.
4. A person beloved; a sweetheart. Thackeray.
Syn. — Blaze; brightness; ardor. See Blaze. Flame bridge, a bridge wall. See Bridge, n., 5. — Flame color, brilliant orange or yellow. B. Jonson. — Flame engine, an early name for the gas engine. — Flame manometer, an instrument, invented by Koenig, to obtain graphic representation of the action of the human vocal organs. See Manometer. — Flame reaction (Chem.), a method of testing for the presence of certain elements by the characteristic color imparted to a flame; as, sodium colors a flame yellow, potassium violet, lithium crimson, boracic acid green, etc. Cf. Spectrum analysis, under Spectrum. — Flame tree (Bot.), a tree with showy scarlet flowers, as the Rhododendron arboreum in India, and the Brachychiton acerifolium of Australia.
FLAMEFlame, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaming.] Etym:[OE. flamen, flaumben, F. flamber, OF. also, flamer. See Flame, n.]
1. To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies in combustion; to blaze. The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again. Shak.
2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor. He flamed with indignation. Macaulay.
FLAMEFlame, v. t.
Defn: To kindle; to inflame; to excite.And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly. Spenser.
FLAME-COLOREDFlame"-col`ored, a.
Defn: Of the color of flame; of a bright orange yellow color. Shak.
FLAMELESSFlame"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of flame. Sandys.
FLAMELETFlame"let, n. Etym: [Flame + -let.]
Defn: A small flame.The flamelets gleamed and flickered. Longfellow.
FLAMENFla"men, n.; pl. E. Flammens, L. Flamines. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A priest devoted to the service of a particular god, from whomhe received a distinguishing epithet. The most honored were those ofJupiter, Mars, and Quirinus, called respectively Flamen Dialis,Flamen Martialis, and Flamen Quirinalis.Affrights the flamens at their service quaint. Milton.
FLAMINEOUSFla*min"e*ous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a flamen; flaminical.
FLAMINGFlam"ing, a.
1. Emitting flames; afire; blazing; consuming; illuminating.
2. Of the color of flame; high-colored; brilliant; dazzling. "In flaming yellow bright." Prior.
3. Ardent; passionate; burning with zeal; irrepressibly earnest; as, a flaming proclomation or harangue.
FLAMINGLYFlam"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flaming manner.
FLAMINGOFla*min"go, n.; pl. Flamingoes. Etym: [Sp. flamenco, cf. Pg.flamingo, Prov. flammant, F. flamant; prop. a p.pr. meaning flaming.So called in allusion to its color. See Flame.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the genus Phoenicopterus. The flamingoes have webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the European is P. antiquorum.
FLAMINICALFla*min"i*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a flamen. Milton.
FLAMMABILITYFlam`ma*bil"ity, n.
Defn: The quality of being flammable; inflammability. [Obs.] Sir T.Browne.
FLAMMABLEFlam"ma*ble, a.
Defn: Inflammable. [Obs.]
FLAMMATIONFlam*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act of setting in a flame or blaze. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.
FLAMMEOUSFlam"me*ous, a. Etym: [L. flammeus from flamma flame.]
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, flame. [Obs.] SirT. Browne.
FLAMMIFEROUS Flam*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. flammifer; flamma flame + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Producing flame.
FLAMMIVOMOUS Flam*miv"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. flammivomus; flamma flame + vomere to vomit.]
Defn: Vomiting flames, as a volcano. W. Thompson. (1745).
FLAMMULATED Flam"mu*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. flammula little flame, dim. fr. flamma flame.]
Defn: Of a reddish color.
FLAMYFlam"y, a. Etym: [From Flame.]
Defn: Flaming; blazing; flamelike; flame-colored; composed of flame.Pope.
FLANCH Flanch, n.; pl. Flanches. Etym: [Prov. E., a projection, OF. flanche flank. See Flank.]
1. A flange. [R.]. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing consisting of a segment of a circle encroaching on the field from the side.
Note: Flanches are always in pairs. A pair of flanches is considered one of the subordinaries.
FLANCHEDFlanched, a. (Her.)
Defn: Having flanches; — said of an escutcheon with those bearings.
FLANCONADEFlan`co*nade", n. Etym: [F.] (Fencing)
Defn: A thrust in the side.
FLANERIEFlâ`ne*rie", n. [F. flânerie. See Flaneur.]
Defn: Lit., strolling; sauntering; hence, aimless; idleness; as, intellectual flânerie.
FLANEURFla`neur", n. Etym: [F., fr. flâner to stroll.]
Defn: One who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer.
FLANGFlang, n.
Defn: A miner's two-pointed pick.
FLANGEFlange, n. Etym: [Prov. E. flange to project, flanch a projection.See Flanch, Flank.]
1. An external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange of an iron beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a car wheel (see Car wheel.); or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc. Knight.
2. A plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe. Blind flange, a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. — Flange joint, a joint, as that of pipes, where the connecting pieces have flanges by which the parts are bolted together. Knight. - Flange rail, a rail with a flange on one side, to keep wheels, etc. from running off. — Flange turning, the process of forming a flange on a wrought iron plate by bending and hammering it wh
FLANGEFlange, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Flanging.](Mach.)
Defn: To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange.
FLANGEFlange, v. i.
Defn: To be bent into a flange.
FLANGEDFlanged, a.
Defn: Having a flange or flanges; as, a flanged wheel.
FLANK Flank, n. Etym: [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. Flaccid, Flanch, Flange.]
1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the rids and the hip. See Illust. of Beef.
2. (Mil.) (a) The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side. When to right and left the front Divided, and to either flank retired. Milton. (b) (Fort.)
Defn: That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The side of any building. Brands.
4. That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line. Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front or rear. — Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen. — Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other works, sweeping the ground in its front. — Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line. — Flank files, the first men on the right, and the last on the left, of a company, battalion, etc. — Flank march, a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank. — Flank movement, a change of march by an army, or portion of one, in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new position. — Flanks of a frontier, salient points in a national boundary, strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion. — Flank patrol, detachments acting independently of the column of an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.
FLANKFlank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flanking.] Etym:[Cf. F. flanquer. See Flank, n., and cf. Flanker, v. t.]
1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon. Stately colonnades are flanked with trees. Pitt.
2. To overlook or command the flank of; to secure or guard the flank of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to attack; the flank of.
FLANKFlank, v. i.
1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler.
2. To be posted on the side.
FLANKERFlank"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, flanks, as a skirmisher or a body of troops sent out upon the flanks of an army toguard a line of march, or a fort projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body. They threw out flankers, and endeavored to dislodge their assailants. W. Irwing.
FLANKERFlank"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flankered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flankering.]Etym: [See Flank, v. t.]
1. To defend by lateral fortifications. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
2. To attack sideways. [Obs.] Evelyn.
FLANNEL Flan"nel, n. Etym: [F. flanelle, cf. OF. flaine a pillowcase, a mattress; fr. W. gwlanen flannel, fr. gwlan wool; prob. akin to E. wool. Cf. Wool.]
Defn: A soft, nappy, woolen cloth, of loose texture. Shak. Adam's flannel. (Bot.) See under Adam. — Canton flannel, Cotton flannel. See Cotton flannel, under Cotton.
FLANNELEDFlan"neled, a.
Defn: Covered or wrapped in flannel.
FLANNEL FLOWER Flan"nel flow`er. (Bot.) (a) The common mullein. (b) A Brazilian apocynaceous vine (Macrosiphonia longiflora) having woolly leaves. (c) An umbelliferous Australian flower (Actinotus helianthi), often erroneously thought to be composite. The involucre looks as if cut out of white flannel.
FLANNENFlan"nen, a.
Defn: Made or consisting of flannel. [Obs.] "Flannen robes." Dryden.
FLAP Flap, n. Etym: [OE. flappe, flap, blow, bly-flap; cf. D. flap, and E. flap, v.]
Defn: Anything broad and limber that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved; as, the flap of a garment. A cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx. Sir T. Browne.
2. A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.
3. The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it; as, the flap of a sail or of a wing.
4. pl. (Far.)
Defn: A disease in the lips of horses. Flap tile, a tile with a bent up portion, to turn a corner or catch a drip. — Flap valve (Mech.), a valve which opens and shuts upon one hinged side; a clack valve.
FLAPFlap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Flapping.] Etym:[Prob. of imitative origin; cf. D. flappen, E. flap, n., flop,flippant, fillip.]
1. To beat with a flap; to strike. Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings. Pope.
2. To move, as something broad and flaplike; as, to flap the wings; to let fall, as the brim of a hat. To flap in the mouth, to taunt. [Obs.] W. Cartwright.
FLAPFlap, v. i.
1. To move as do wings, or as something broad or loose; to fly with wings beating the air. The crows flapped over by twos and threes. Lowell.
2. To fall and hang like a flap, as the brim of a hat, or other broad thing. Gay.
FLAPDRAGONFlap"drag`on, n.
1. A game in which the players catch raisins out burning brandy, and swallow them blazing. Johnson.
2. The thing thus caught abd eaten. Johnson. Cakes and ale, and flapdragtons and mummer's plays, and all the happy sports of Christians night. C. Kingsley.
FLAPDRAGONFlap"drag`on, v. t.
Defn: To swallow whole, as a flapdragon; to devour. [Obs.]See how the sea flapdragoned it. Shak.
FLAP-EAREDFlap"-eared`, a.
Defn: Having broad, loose, dependent ears. Shak.
FLAPJACKFlap"jack`, n.
1. A fklat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or pacake.
2. A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover. [Prov. Eng.]
FLAP-MOUTHEDFlap"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Having broad, hangling lips. [R.] Shak.
FLAPPERFlap"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, flaps.
2. See Flipper. "The flapper of a porpoise." Buckley. Flapper skate (Zoöl.), a European skate (Raia intermedia).
FLAREFlare, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flared; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaring.] Etym:[Cf. Norw. flara to blaze, flame, adorn with tinsel, dial. Sw. flasaupp, and E. flash, or flacker.]
1. To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.
2. To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.
3. To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively bright or showy. With ribbons pendant, flaring about her head. Shak.
4. To be exosed to too much light. [Obs.] Flaring in sunshine all the day. Prior.
5. To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular; as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare. To flare up, to become suddenly heated or excited; to burst into a passion. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
FLAREFlare, n.
1. An unsteady, broad, offensive light.
2. A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.
FLAREFlare, n.
Defn: Leaf of lard. "Pig's flare." Dunglison.
FLARE-UPFlare"-up`, n.
Defn: A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute. [Colloq.]
FLARINGFlar"ing, a.
1. That flares; flaming or blazing unsteadily; shining out with a dazzling light. His [the sun's] flaring beams. Milton.
2. Opening or speading outwards.
FLARINGLYFlar"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flaring manner.
FLASHFlash, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] Etym:[Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa toblaze, E. flush, flare.]
1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash. Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unumbered struggles. Talfourd. The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind. M. Arnold. A thought floashed through me, which I clothed in act. Tennyson.
3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily. Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other. Shak. To flash in the pan, to fail of success. [Colloq.] See under Flash, a burst of light. Bartlett.
Syn. — Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister. Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.
FLASHFlash, v. t.
1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light. The chariot of paternal Deity, Flashing thick flames. Milton.
2. To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.
3. (Glass Making)
Defn: To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).
4. To trick up in a showy manner. Limning and flashing it with various dyes. A. Brewer.
5. Etym: [Perh. due to confusion between flash of light and plash, splash.]
Defn: To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface;to splash. [Obs.]He rudely flashed the waves about. Spenser.Flashed glass. See Flashing, n., 3.
FLASHFlash, n.; pl. Flashes (.
1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.
2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentarybrightness or show.The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. Shak.No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. Wirt.
3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period. The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. Bacon.
4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictious strength to liquors. Flash light, or Flashing light, a kind of light shown by lighthouses, produced by the revolution of reflectors, so as to show a flash of light every few seconds, alternating with periods of dimness. Knight. — Flash in the pan, the flashing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence, sudden, spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.
FLASHFlash, a.
1. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.
2. Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as, flash people; flash men or women; — applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry. Flash house, a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel. "A gang of footpads, reveling with their favorite beauties at a flash house." Macaulay.
FLASHFlash, n.
Defn: Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
FLASHFlash, n. Etym: [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.]
1. A pool. [Prov. Eng.] Haliwell.
2. (Engineering)
Defn: A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal. Flash wheel (Mech.), a paddle wheel made to revolve in a breast or curved water way, by which water is lifted from the lower to the higher level.
FLASHBOARDFlash"board`, n.
Defn: A board placed temporarily upon a milldam, to raise the water in the pond above its usual level; a flushboard. [U.S.]
FLASH BOILERFlash boiler.
Defn: A variety of water-tube boiler, used chiefly in steam automobiles, consisting of a nest of strong tubes with very little water space, kept nearly red hot so that the water as it trickles drop by drop into the tubes is immediately flashed into steam and superheated.
FLASH BURNERFlash burner.
Defn: A gas burner with a device for lighting by an electric spark.
FLASHERFlash"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, flashes.
2. A man of more appearance of wit than reality.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) A large sparoid fish of the Atlantic coast and all tropical seas (Lobotes Surinamensis). (b) The European red-backed shrile (Lanius collurio); — called also flusher.
FLASHILYFlash"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flashy manner; with empty show.
FLASHINESSFlash"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being flashy.
FLASHINGFlash"ing, n.
1. (Engineering)
Defn: The creation of an artifical flood by the sudden letting in of a body of water; — called also flushing.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Pieces of metal, built into the joints of a wall, so as to lap over the edge of the gutters or to cover the edge of the roofing; also, similar pieces used to cover the valleys of roofs of slate, shingles, or the like. By extension, the metal covering of ridges and hips of roofs; also, in the United States, the protecting of angles and breaks in walls of frame houses with waterproof material, tarred paper, or the like. Cf. Filleting.
3. (Glass Making) (a) The reheating of an article at the furnace aperture during manufacture to restore its plastic condition; esp., the reheating of a globe of crown glass to allow it to assume a flat shape as it is rotated. (b) A mode of covering transparent white glass with a film of colored glass. Knight. Flashing point (Chem.), that degree of temperature at which a volatile oil gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to burn, or flash, on the approach of a flame, used as a test of the comparative safety of oils, esp. kerosene; a flashing point of 100º F. is regarded as a fairly safe standard. The burning point of the oil is usually from ten to thirty degree above the flashing point of its vapor.
FLASHYFlash"y, a.
1. Dazzling for a moment; making a momentary show of brilliancy; transitorily bright. A little flashy and transient pleasure. Barrow.
2. Fiery; vehement; impetuous. A temper always flashy. Burke.
3. Showy; gay; gaudy; as, a flashy dress.
4. Without taste or spirit. Lean and flashy songs. Milton.
FLASKFlask, n. Etym: [AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca,G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca,flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel,Gr. Flagon, Flasket.]
1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a flask of oil or wine.
2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat water in, etc.
3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] Bailey.
4. (Founding)
Defn: The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand, etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three part flask, four part flask, etc. Erlenmeyer flask, a thin glass flask, flat-bottomed and cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents laterally without danger of spilling; — so called from Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it. — Florence flask. Etym: [From Florence in Italy.] (a) Same as Betty, n., 3. (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating solutions. — Pocket flask, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered with metal or leather to protect it from breaking.
FLASKET Flask"et, n. Etym: [Cf. W. fflasged a vessel of straw or wickerwork, fflasg flask, basket, and E. flask.]
1. A long, shallow basket, with two handles. [Eng.] In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket. Spenser.
2. A small flask.
3. A vessel in which viands are served. [Obs.] Pope.
FLAT Flat, a. [Compar. Flatter; superl. Flattest.] Etym: [Akin to Icel. flatr, Sw. flat, Dan. flad, OHG. flaz, and AS. flet floor, G. flötz stratum, layer.]
1. Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane. Though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk. Milton.
2. Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed. What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat! Milton. I feel . . . my hopes all flat. Milton.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest. A large part of the work is, to me, very flat. Coleridge.
4. Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.
5. Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition. How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world. Shak.
6. Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.
7. Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright. Flat burglary as ever was committed. Shak. A great tobacco taker too, — that's flat. Marston.
8. (Mus.) (a) Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat. (b) Not sharp or shrill; not acute; as, a flat sound.
9. (Phonetics)
Defn: Sonant; vocal; — applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant. Flat arch. (Arch.) See under Arch, n., 2. (b). — Flat cap, cap paper, not folded. See under Paper. — Flat chasing, in fine art metal working, a mode of ornamenting silverware, etc., producing figures by dots and lines made with a punching tool. Knight. — Flat chisel, a sculptor's chisel for smoothing. — Flat file, a file wider than its thickness, and of rectangular section. See File. — Flat nail, a small, sharp-pointed, wrought nail, with a flat, thin head, larger than a tack. Knight. — Flat paper, paper which has not been folded. — Flat rail, a railroad rail consisting of a simple flat bar spiked to a longitudinal sleeper. — Flat rods (Mining), horizontal or inclined connecting rods, for transmitting motion to pump rods at a distance. Raymond. — Flat rope, a rope made by plaiting instead of twisting; gasket; sennit.
Note: Some flat hoisting ropes, as for mining shafts, are made bysewing together a number of ropes, making a wide, flat band. Knight.— Flat space. (Geom.) See Euclidian space.— Flat stitch, the process of wood engraving. [Obs.] — Flat tint(Painting), a coat of water color of one uniform shade.— To fall flat (Fig.), to produce no effect; to fail in theintended effect; as, his speech fell flat.Of all who fell by saber or by shot, Not one fell half so flat asWalter Scott. Lord Erskine.
FLATFlat, adv.
1. In a flat manner; directly; flatly. Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty. Herbert.
2. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: Without allowance for accrued interest. [Broker's Cant]
FLATFlat, n.
1. A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats. Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat. Bacon.
2. A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand. Half my power, this night Passing these flats, are taken by the tide. Shak.
3. Something broad and flat in form; as: (a) A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught. (b) A straw hat, broad-brimmed and low-crowned. (c) (Railroad Mach.) A car without a roof, the body of which is a platform without sides; a platform car. (d) A platform on wheel, upon which emblematic designs, etc., are carried in processions.
4. The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: A floor, loft, or story in a building; especially, a floor of a house, which forms a complete residence in itself.
6. (Mining)
Defn: A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal. Raymond.
7. A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull. [Colloq.] Or if you can not make a speech, Because you are a flat. Holmes.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: A character [] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.
9. (Geom.)
Defn: A homaloid space or extension.
FLATFlat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flatting.]
1. To make flat; to flatten; to level.
2. To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress. Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted. Barrow.
3. To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.
FLATFlat, v. i.
1. To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fal to an even surface. Sir W. Temple.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: To fall form the pitch. To flat out, to fail from a promising beginning; to make a bad ending; to disappoint expectations. [Colloq.]
FLATBILLFlat"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the genus Flatyrynchus. They belong to the family of flycatchers.
FLATBOATFlat"boat`, n.
Defn: A boat with a flat bottom and square ends; — used for the transportation of bulky freight, especially in shallow waters.
FLAT-BOTTOMEDFlat"-bot`tomed, a.
Defn: Having an even lower surface or bottom; as, a flat-bottomed boat.
FLAT-CAPFlat"-cap`, n.
Defn: A kind of low-crowned cap formerly worn by all classes in England, and continued in London after disuse elsewhere; — hence, a citizen of London. Marston.
FLATFISHFlat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any fish of the family Pleuronectidæ; esp., the winter flounder (Pleuronectes Americanus). The flatfishes have the body flattened, swim on the side, and have eyes on one side, as the flounder, turbot, and halibut. See Flounder.
FLAT FOOTFlat" foot`. (Med.)
Defn: A foot in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the entire sole of the foot rests upon the ground; also, the deformity, usually congential, exhibited by such a foot; splayfoot.
FLAT-FOOTEDFlat"-foot`ed, a.
1. Having a flat foot, with little or no arch of the instep.
2. Firm-footed; determined. [Slang, U.S.]
FLATHEADFlat"head`, a.
Defn: Characterized by flatness of head, especially that produced by artificial means, as a certain tribe of American Indians.
FLATHEADFlat"head`, n. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A Chinook Indian. See Chinook, n., 1.
FLAT-HEADEDFlat"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a head with a flattened top; as, a flat-headed nail.
FLATIRONFlat"i`ron, n.
Defn: An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes.
FLATIVEFla"tive, a. Etym: [L. flare, flatum to blow.]
Defn: Producing wind; flatulent. [Obs.] A. Brewer.
FLATLINGFlat"ling, adv. Etym: [Flat, a. + adverbial suff. -ing.]
Defn: With the flat side, as of a sword; flatlong; in a prostrate position. [Obs.] Spenser.
FLATLONGFlat"long
Defn: ; 115), adv. With the flat side downward; not edgewise. Shak.
FLATLYFlat"ly, adv.
Defn: In a flat manner; evenly; horizontally; without spirit; dully; frigidly; peremptori;y; positively, plainly. "He flatly refused his aid." Sir P. Sidney. He that does the works of religion slowly, flatly, and without appetite. Jer. Taylor.
FLATNESSFlat"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being flat.
2. Eveness of surface; want of relief or prominence; the state of being plane or level.
3. Want of vivacity or spirit; prostration; dejection; depression.
4. Want of variety or flavor; dullness; inspidity.
5. Depression of tone; the state of being below the true pitch; — opposed to sharpness or acuteness.
FLATOURFla*tour", n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: A flatterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLATTENFlat"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattened; p. pr. & vb. n. Flattening.]Etym: [From Flat, a.]
1. To reduce to an even surface or one approaching evenness; to make flat; to level; to make plane.
2. To throw down; to bring to the ground; to prostrate; hence, to depress; to deject; to dispirit.
3. To make vapid or insipid; to render stale.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: To lower the pitch of; to cause to sound less sharp; to let fall from the pitch. To flatten a sail (Naut.), to set it more nearly fore-and-aft of the vessel. — Flattening oven, in glass making, a heated chamber in which split glass cylinders are flattened for window glass.
FLATTENFlat"ten, v. i.
Defn: To become or grow flat, even, depressed dull, vapid, spiritless, or depressed below pitch.
FLATTERFlat"ter, n.
1. One who, or that which, makes flat or flattens.
2. (Metal Working) (a) A flat-faced fulling hammer. (b) A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips, as watch springs, etc.
FLATTERFlat"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flattering.]Etym: [OE. flateren, cf. OD. flatteren; akin to G. flattern toflutter, Icel. fla to fawn, flatter: cf. F. flatter. Cf. Flitter,Flutter, Flattery.]
1. To treat with praise or blandishments; to gratify or attempt to gratify the self-love or vanity of, esp. by artful and interested commendation or attentions; to blandish; to cajole; to wheedle. When I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered. Shak. A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. xxix. 5. Others he flattered by asking their advice. Prescott.
2. To raise hopes in; to encourage or favorable, but sometimes unfounded or deceitful, representations.
3. To portray too favorably; to give a too favorable idea of; as, his portrait flatters him.
FLATTERFlat"ter, v. i.
Defn: To use flattery or insincere praise. If it may stand him more in stead to lie, Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or adjure. Milton.
FLATTERERFlat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who flatters.The most abject flaterers degenerate into the greatest tyrants.Addison.
FLATTERINGFlat"ter*ing, a.
Defn: That flatters (in the various senses of the verb); as, aflattering speech.Lay not that flattering unction to your soul. Shak.A flattering painter, who made it his care, To draw men as they oughtbe, not as they are. Goldsmith.
FLATTERINGLYFlat"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With flattery.
FLATTERYFlat"ter*y, n.; pl. Flatteries. Etym: [OE. flaterie, OF. flaterie, F.flaterie, fr. flater to flatter, F. flatter; of uncertain origin. SeeFlatter, v. t.]
Defn: The act or practice of flattering; the act of pleasing byartiful commendation or compliments; adulation; false, insincere, orexcessive praise.Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present. Rambler.Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver. Burke.
Syn.— Adulation; compliment; obsequiousness. See Adulation.
FLATTINGFlat"ting, n.
1. The process or operation of making flat, as a cylinder of glass by opening it out.
2. A mode of painting,in which the paint, being mixed with turpentine, leaves the work without gloss. Gwilt.
3. A method of preserving gilding unburnished, by touching with size. Knolles.
4. The process of forming metal into sheets by passing it between rolls. Flatting coat, a coat of paint so put on as to have no gloss. — Flatting furnace. Same as Flattening oven, under Flatten. — Flatting mill. (a) A rolling mill producing sheet metal; esp., in mints, the ribbon from which the planchets are punched. (b) A mill in which grains of metal are flatted by steel rolls, and reduced to metallic dust, used for purposes of ornamentation.
FLATTISHFlat"tish, a.
Defn: Somewhat flat. Woodward.
FLATULENCE; FLATULENCYFlat"u*lence, Flat"u*len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flatulence.]
Defn: The state or quality of being flatulent.
FLATULENT Flat"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. flatus a blowing, flatus ventris windiness, flatulence, fr. flare to blow: cf. F. flatulent. See Blow.]
1. Affected with flatus or gases generated in the alimentary canal; windy.
2. Generating, or tending to generate, wind in the stomach. Vegetables abound more with aërial particles than animal substances, and therefore are more flatulent. Arbuthnot.
3. Turgid with flatus; as, a flatulent tumor. Quincy.
4. Pretentious without substance or reality; puffy; empty; vain; as, a flatulent vanity. He is too flatulent sometimes, and sometimes too dry. Dryden.