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| flat [ flat ] |
adjective (comparative flat·ter, superlative flat·test) |
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| Definition: |
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1. level and horizontal: level and horizontal, without any slope
  The flat plains stretch for miles.
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2. even and smooth: even and smooth, without any bumps or hollows
back on the flat road
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3. not curved: not curved inward or outward
a boat with a flat bottom
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4. with little curvature: with relatively little depth or curvature
a vase with flat sides
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5. lying horizontal: in a horizontal position, parallel with or stretched out on the ground
plants lying flat after the heavy rain
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6. touching something else: with the whole extent touching another surface at all points
Stand it flat against the wall.
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7. no longer bubbly: having lost effervescence
flat champagne
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8. not full of air: no longer full of air
a flat tire
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9. below correct pitch: sounded or sounding a little lower than the intended pitch level
Your E string is flat.
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10. one half-step below natural: pitched one half-step below a particular note
in the key of B flat
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11. lacking excitement: without any interest or excitement
Some days life just seems flat.
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12. without flavor: lacking flavor or seasoning
This soup tastes flat.
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13. monotonous in sound: with no variation in pitch or intonation
expressed her displeasure in a flat voice
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14. commercially inactive: not commercially active
The market is fairly flat at the moment.
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15. not varying: not varying in amount or level
They charge a flat fee of $50.
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16. emphatically absolute: categorical and without any qualification
a flat denial of the charges
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17. low-heeled: with low heels or no heels at all
flat shoes
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18. not shiny: not shiny or glossy
a flat white paint
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19. with low arches: describes feet with arches so low that all the sole makes contact with the ground
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20. medicine indicating cessation of physiological activity: showing no variation on a monitoring machine, and thereby indicating that physiological activity has stopped
a flat EKG
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21. phonetics resembling vowel sound in "fat": describes the vowel "a" as it is pronounced in "fat" or "badge"
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22. nautical taut: describes a sail that is stretched so as to be taut
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adverb (comparative flat·ter, superlative flat·test) |
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| Definition: |
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1. below pitch: below the intended pitch
She tends to sing flat.
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2. exactly: no more and no less
He ran the mile in four minutes flat.
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3. very: used to add emphasis
(
informal
)
flat broke
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4. finance without interest: not accruing any interest
The bonds were trading flat.
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noun (plural flats) |
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| Definition: |
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1. level surface: a flat part or surface
the flat of a knife blade
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2. deflated tire: a tire that has become deflated
(
informal
)
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3. music note lowered by half-step: a sign (♭) placed next to a note to show that it is to be lowered by a half-step, or a note that is lowered a half-step
a key with four flats
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4. geography large stretch of level ground: a large stretch of level ground, e.g. of mud exposed at low tide or of salt deposits
(
usually used in the plural
)
the great salt flats
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5. gardening shallow box for seedlings: a shallow lidless box or frame for seedlings
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6. theater movable scenery: theatrical scenery mounted on a movable wooden frame
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7. U.S. rail
Same as flatcar
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8. nautical
Same as flatboat
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9. mail big flat envelope: a large flat piece of mail
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plural noun flats |
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| Definition: |
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dress low-heeled shoes: shoes with low heels
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verb (past and past participle flat·ted, present participle flat·ting, 3rd person present singular flats) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb U.S. flatten: to make something flat or become flat
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2. transitive verb North America make note flat: to lower a note a half step
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3. transitive verb North America sing or play something flat: to sing or play a note below the intended pitch
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| [14th century. < Old Norse flatr< Indo-European] |
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| flat·ness noun |
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