flatter
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flat·ter 1
(flăt′ər)v. flat·tered, flat·ter·ing, flat·ters
v.tr.
1. To compliment excessively and often insincerely, especially in order to win favor.
2. To please or gratify the vanity of: "What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering" (George Bernard Shaw).
3.
a. To portray favorably: a photograph that flatters its subject.
b. To show off becomingly or advantageously.
v.intr.
To practice flattery.
[Middle English flateren, from Old French flater, of Germanic origin; see plat- in Indo-European roots.]
flat′ter·er n.
flat′ter·ing·ly adv.
flat·ter 2
(flăt′ər)n.
1. A flat-faced swage or hammer used by blacksmiths.
2. A die plate for flattening metal into strips, as in the manufacture of watch springs.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
flatter
(ˈflætə)vb
1. to praise insincerely, esp in order to win favour or reward
2. to show to advantage: that dress flatters her.
3. (tr) to make to appear more attractive, etc, than in reality
4. to play upon or gratify the vanity of (a person): it flatters her to be remembered.
5. (tr) to beguile with hope; encourage, esp falsely: this success flattered him into believing himself a champion.
6. (tr) to congratulate or deceive (oneself): I flatter myself that I am the best.
[C13: probably from Old French flater to lick, fawn upon, of Frankish origin]
ˈflatterable adj
ˈflatterer n
ˈflatteringly adv
flatter
(ˈflætə)n
1. (Tools) a blacksmith's tool, resembling a flat-faced hammer, that is placed on forged work and struck to smooth the surface of the forging
2. (Tools) a die with a narrow rectangular orifice for drawing flat sections
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
flat•ter1
(ˈflæt ər)v.t.
1. to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention.
2. to praise or compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively.
3. to represent favorably, esp. too favorably: The portrait flatters her.
4. to show to advantage: a hairstyle that flatters the face.
5. to please or gratify by compliments or attentions: I was flattered by the invitation.
6. to feel satisfaction with (oneself), sometimes mistakenly.
7. to beguile with hope; encourage prematurely, falsely, etc.
v.i. 8. to use flattery.
[1175–1225; Middle English: to float, flutter, fawn upon, Old English floterian to float, flutter]
flat′ter•a•ble, adj.
flat′ter•er, n.
flat′ter•ing•ly, adv.
flat•ter2
(ˈflæt ər)n.
a flat-faced blacksmith's tool used to smooth the surface of the forging.
[1705–15]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
flatter
Past participle: flattered
Gerund: flattering
| Imperative |
|---|
| flatter |
| flatter |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  flatter - praise somewhat dishonestly soft-soap - use flattering talk on somebody praise - express approval of; "The parents praised their children for their academic performance" adulate - flatter in an obsequious manner stroke - treat gingerly or carefully; "You have to stroke the boss" bootlick, kotow, toady, truckle, kowtow, fawn, suck up - try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; "He is always kowtowing to his boss" brown-nose, butter up - flatter with the intention of getting something |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
flatter
verb
1. praise, compliment, pander to, sweet-talk (informal), court, humour, puff, flannel (Brit. informal), fawn, cajole, lay it on (thick) (slang), wheedle, inveigle, soft-soap (informal), butter up, blandish I knew he was just flattering me.
2. suit, become, enhance, set off, embellish, do something for, show to advantage Orange flatters those with golden skin tones.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
flatter
verb1. To compliment excessively and ingratiatingly:
Informal: soft-soap, sweet-talk.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
يَتَباهى، يَتَبَجَّحيَتَمَلَّقيَتَمَلَّقُيُطْري لِ
lichotitlichotit sipochlebovat
smigrebilde sig indforskønne
imarrella
laskati
fegraòykjast getaskjalla, lofa um of
おだてる
아첨하다
gražintigyrimasjausti pasitenkinimąmeilikautimeilikautojas
būt apmierinātam ar seviglaimotizskaistināt
lichotiť
laskatilaskati siprilizovati se
smickra
ยกยอ
pohpohlamakyağ çekmekkıvanç duymakolduğundan iyi göstermek
nịnh nọt
flatter
[ˈflætəʳ] VT1. (= praise, compliment)
2. (= gratify) → halagar
I was very flattered to be asked → me halagó que me lo pidieran
to feel flattered → sentirse halagado
I was very flattered to be asked → me halagó que me lo pidieran
to feel flattered → sentirse halagado
3. (= show to advantage) → favorecer
that colour flatters you → ese color te favorece
it's a dress that will flatter any figure → es un vestido que favorece a cualquiera
that colour flatters you → ese color te favorece
it's a dress that will flatter any figure → es un vestido que favorece a cualquiera
4. to flatter o.s
4.1. (= pride o.s.) to flatter o.s. on sth/that → enorgullecerse de algo/de que
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
flatter
[ˈflætər] vt [person] → flatter
to flatter o.s. (that) ...
I flatter myself I've done it all rather well → J'aime à penser que j'ai tout plutôt bien réussi.
to flatter o.s. (that) ...
I flatter myself I've done it all rather well → J'aime à penser que j'ai tout plutôt bien réussi.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
flatter
vt → schmeicheln (+dat); it flatters your figure → das ist sehr vorteilhaft; I was very flattered by his remark → ich fühlte mich von seiner Bemerkung sehr geschmeichelt; you can flatter yourself on being … → Sie können sich (dat) → etwas darauf einbilden, dass Sie …; he flatters himself he’s a good musician → er bildet sich (dat) → ein, ein guter Musiker zu sein; don’t flatter yourself! → bilde dir ja nichts ein!
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
flatter
[ˈflætəʳ] vt (praise) → adulare, lusingare; (show to advantage) → donare athis photo flatters you → in questa foto sei venuto molto bene
to flatter o.s. that one is ... → illudersi di essere...
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
flatter
(ˈflӕtə) verb1. to praise too much or insincerely. Flatter him by complimenting him on his singing.
2. to show, describe etc someone or something as being better than someone etc really is. The photograph flatters him.
3. to be pleased to say about (oneself) (that one can do something). I flatter myself that I can speak French perfectly.
ˈflatterer nounˈflattery noun
insincere praise.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
flatter
→ يَتَمَلَّقُ lichotit smigre schmeicheln κολακεύω adular, halagar imarrella flatter laskati adulare おだてる 아첨하다 vleien smigre pochlebić bajular, lisonjear льстить smickra ยกยอ pohpohlamak nịnh nọt 奉承Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009