flounce

1
[ flouns ]
See synonyms for flounce on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),flounced, flounc·ing.
  1. to go with impatient or impetuous, exaggerated movements: The star flounced out of the studio in a rage.

  2. to throw the body about spasmodically; flounder.

noun
  1. an act or instance of flouncing; a flouncing movement.

Origin of flounce

1
1535–45; of obscure origin; perhaps akin to Norwegian flunsa to hurry

Other words for flounce

Other definitions for flounce (2 of 2)

flounce2
[ flouns ]

noun
  1. a strip of material gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, with the other edge left loose or hanging: used for trimming, as on the edge of a skirt or sleeve or on a curtain, slipcover, etc.

verb (used with object),flounced, flounc·ing.
  1. to trim with flounces.

Origin of flounce

2
First recorded in 1665–75; alteration of obsolete frounce wrinkle

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

How to use flounce in a sentence

  • "Men never do like Jeanne," she assured him, with a complacent rippling gesture of her flounced body.

    Mountain | Clement Wood

British Dictionary definitions for flounce (1 of 2)

flounce1

/ (flaʊns) /


verb
  1. (intr; often foll by about, away, out, etc) to move or go with emphatic or impatient movements

noun
  1. the act of flouncing

Origin of flounce

1
C16: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian flunsa to hurry, Swedish flunsa to splash

British Dictionary definitions for flounce (2 of 2)

flounce2

/ (flaʊns) /


noun
  1. an ornamental gathered ruffle sewn to a garment by its top edge

Origin of flounce

2
C18: from Old French fronce wrinkle, from froncir to wrinkle, of Germanic origin

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