English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
to praise excessively or insincerely to gain favor
"He tried to flatter his boss to get a promotion."
a person who lavishes praise, often insincerely and in order to gain advantage
"The king was surrounded by flatterers who only told him what he wanted to hear."
excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests
"His constant flattery made everyone suspicious of his true motives."
the accumulation of gas in the digestive system; excessive gas in the stomach or intestines
"Eating beans can sometimes cause flatulence."
to show off something proudly, often to attract attention
"She likes to flaunt her new jewelry at parties."
The distinctive taste of a food or drink.
"This ice cream has a delicious mango flavor."
the distinctive taste of a food or drink; a particular quality or atmosphere
"The soup had a rich flavour of herbs and spices from the garden."
a defect or imperfection in something
"The diamond had a small flaw that was barely visible."
having a mistake or fault that reduces its value or quality
"The flawed design of the car led to a recall."
perfect; without any defects or faults; immaculate
"Her flawless performance earned her a standing ovation."
a plant whose fibers are used to make linen and whose seeds are edible
"Flax is often used in making linen fabrics."
to strip off the skin of something or criticize severely
"The chef flayed the fish before cooking it."
a small spot or mark, often of a different color
"There was a fleck of paint on the floor."
The act of bending or the state of being bent, especially of a limb or joint.
"The doctor tested the patient's knee flection during the examination."
To develop wing feathers large enough for flight; to bring up until able to fly.
"The young birds will fledge in a few weeks."
A young bird that has just developed its feathers and is learning to fly; a beginner.
"The fledgeling was trying hard to take its first flight."
A young bird just learning to fly; also used for a person or organization that is inexperienced or new.
"The fledgling company is growing rapidly despite challenges."
To run away from danger or a threatening situation.
"The villagers had to flee during the flood."
The woolly covering of a sheep; as a verb, to swindle or cheat someone.
"The farmer sheared the sheep’s fleece carefully."
a group of ships, vehicles, or aircraft operating together under one command
"The navy deployed its entire fleet for the exercise."
lasting for a very short time
"She had a fleeting smile before she left."
the soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that is found between the skin and bones of animals or humans
"The wound cut deep into the flesh of his arm."
the ability to bend easily without breaking or to adapt to new situations
"Flexibility is essential for success in a changing work environment."
able to bend easily without breaking; adaptable to change
"Yoga helps to make the body more flexible."
to move or cause to move with a sudden quick motion
"He flicked the switch to turn on the light."
to shine unsteadily or waver between light and dark
"The candle flickered in the wind."
the act of flying, typically through the air; or a scheduled trip by an aircraft
"Our flight to London was delayed due to bad weather."
unstable, impulsive, or easily distracted; lacking seriousness or stability
"She’s too flighty to stick with one job for long."
weak, fragile, or lacking in strength; not convincing
"The chair was too flimsy to support his weight."
to suddenly move back or away due to fear or pain
"He didn’t flinch when the doctor gave him the injection."
to turn over quickly or suddenly; to toss lightly
"She flipped the pancake in the pan."
lack of seriousness; showing a disrespectful or trivial attitude
"His flippancy during the meeting offended his colleagues."
not showing a serious or respectful attitude
"His flippant remarks annoyed the teacher."
to behave as if you are attracted to someone, but not in a serious way
"She often flirts with her colleagues at work."
to move quickly and lightly from one place to another
"Butterflies flitted from flower to flower."
to rest or move on the surface of a liquid or in the air without sinking
"The boat began to float gently down the river."
remaining on the surface of a liquid without sinking; moving lightly or freely
"The boat was floating gently on the calm lake."
a group of birds or animals; to gather or move in a crowd
"Tourists flocked to the beach during summer."
a large sheet of floating ice
"The polar bears rested on the ice floe."
a large amount of water covering land that is usually dry
"The flood destroyed several houses in the village."
Susceptible to flooding; likely to experience floods frequently.
"Bangladesh is a flood-prone deltaic nation."
the lower surface of a room, on which one may walk
"The floor was covered with a soft carpet."
to fall or move heavily and clumsily; to fail completely
"The new movie flopped at the box office."
The plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
"The flora of the Amazon rainforest is incredibly diverse."
The plants and animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period.
"The Galápagos Islands have unique flora and fauna."
Relating to flowers or decorated with flowers.
"She wore a beautiful floral dress to the party."
The process, state, or period of flowering.
"The garden reached its peak florescence in spring."
Having a red or flushed complexion; or excessively ornate and intricate.
"The speaker’s florid style made the lecture hard to follow."
A person who sells and arranges flowers.
"We bought a bouquet from the local florist."
A small fleet of ships or boats operating together.
"A flotilla of fishing boats left the harbor at dawn."