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flout - 9 dictionary results
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flout

  [flout]
Use flout in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to treat with disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff at; mock: to flout the rules of propriety.
–verb (used without object)
2. to show disdain, scorn, or contempt; scoff, mock, or gibe (often fol. by at).
–noun
3. a disdainful, scornful, or contemptuous remark or act; insult; gibe.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME flouten to play the flute; cf. D fluiten to play the flute, jeer

Related forms:
flouter, noun
flout⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Usage note:
See flaunt.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To flout
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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'
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Language Translation for : flout
Spanish: burlarse de,
German: verhöhnen,
Japanese: ばかにする
More Translations »

Flout

Flout\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flouting.] [OD. fluyten to play the flute, to jeer, D. fluiten, fr. fluit, fr. French. See Flute.] To mock or insult; to treat with contempt.

Phillida flouts me. --Walton.

Three gaudy standards flout the pale blue sky. --Byron.

Flout

Flout\, v. i. To practice mocking; to behave with contempt; to sneer; to fleer; -- often with at.

Fleer and gibe, and laugh and flout. --Swift.

Flout

Flout\, n. A mock; an insult.

Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn. --Tennyson.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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flout 
1551, perhaps a special use of M.E. flowten "to play the flute" (cf. M.Du. fluyten "to play the flute," also "to jeer").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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