flirt

[ flurt ]
See synonyms for: flirtflirtingflirty on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to court triflingly or act amorously without serious intentions; play at love; coquet.

  2. to trifle or toy, as with an idea: She flirted with the notion of buying a sports car.

  1. to move with a jerk or jerks; dart about: butterflies flirting from flower to flower.

verb (used with object)
  1. to give a sudden or brisk motion to; wave smartly, as a fan.

  2. to throw or propel with a toss or jerk; fling suddenly.

noun
  1. Also flirter. a person who is given to flirting.

  2. a quick throw or toss; sudden jerk or darting motion.

Origin of flirt

1
First recorded in 1540–50; of expressive origin; compare similar initial cluster in flap, flick1, flip1 and final elements of squirt, spurt

Other words for flirt

Other words from flirt

  • flirt·ing·ly, adverb
  • flirt·y, adjective, flirt·i·er, flirt·i·est

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use flirt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flirt

flirt

/ (flɜːt) /


verb
  1. (intr) to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections; dally

  2. (intr usually foll by with) to deal playfully or carelessly (with something dangerous or serious); trifle: the motorcyclist flirted with death

  1. (intr usually foll by with) to think casually (about); toy (with): to flirt with the idea of leaving

  2. (intr) to move jerkily; dart; flit

  3. (tr) to subject to a sudden swift motion; flick or toss

noun
  1. a person who acts flirtatiously

Origin of flirt

1
C16: of uncertain origin

Derived forms of flirt

  • flirter, noun
  • flirty, adjective
  • flirtingly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012