flatter: Meaning and Definition of

flat•ter

Pronunciation: (flat'ur), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to try to please by complimentary remarks or attention.
  2. to praise or compliment insincerely, effusively, or excessively: She flatters him by constantly praising his books.
  3. to represent favorably; gratify by falsification: The portrait flatters her.
  4. to show to advantage: a hairstyle that flatters the face.
  5. to play upon the vanity or susceptibilities of; cajole, wheedle, or beguile: They flattered him into contributing heavily to the foundation.
  6. to please or gratify by compliments or attentions: I was flattered by their invitation.
  7. to feel satisfaction with (oneself&hasp;), esp. with reference to an accomplishment, act, or occasion: He flattered himself that the dinner had gone well.
  8. to beguile with hope; encourage prematurely, falsely, etc.
—v.i.
  1. to use flattery.

flat•ter

Pronunciation: (flat'ur), [key]
— n.
  1. a person or thing that makes something flat.
  2. a flat-faced blacksmith's tool, laid on a forging and struck with a hammer to smooth the surface of the forging.
  3. a drawplate with a flat orifice for drawing flat metal strips, as for watch springs.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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