| 1. | to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock: to flout the rules of propriety. |
| 2. | to show disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff, mock, or gibe (often fol. by at). |
| 3. | a disdainful, scornful, or contemptuous remark or act; insult; gibe. |
flout (flout) v. flout·ed, flout·ing, flouts v. tr. To show contempt for; scorn: flout a law; behavior that flouted convention. See Usage Note at flaunt. v. intr. To be scornful. n. A contemptuous action or remark; an insult. [Perhaps from Middle English flouten, to play the flute, from Old French flauter, from flaute, flute; see flute.] flout'er n., flout'ing·ly adv. |
| Main Entry: | flout1 |
| Part of Speech: | v |
| Definition: | to treat with contempt and disregard |
| Etymology: | Middle English flouten 'to play the flute' |
| Usage: | transitive |
| Main Entry: | flout2 |
| Part of Speech: | v |
| Definition: | to mock, scoff |
| Etymology: | Middle English flouten 'to play the flute' |
| Usage: | intransitive |
| Main Entry: | flout |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | mockery, scoffing |
| Etymology: | Middle English flouten 'to play the flute' |