flirt

[ flurt ]

verb (used without object)

1. to court triflingly or act amorously without serious intentions; play at love; coquet.

   Synonyms: dally, tease

2. to trifle or toy, as with an idea:

   She flirted with the notion of buying a sports car.

   Synonyms: dally

3. to move with a jerk or jerks; dart about:

   butterflies flirting from flower to flower.

verb (used with object)

1. to give a sudden or brisk motion to; wave smartly, as a fan.
2. to throw or propel with a toss or jerk; fling suddenly.

noun

1. Also flirter. a person who is given to flirting.

   Synonyms: tease, coquette, minx

2. a quick throw or toss; sudden jerk or darting motion.

flirt

/ flɜːt /

verb

1. intr to behave or act amorously without emotional commitment; toy or play with another's affections; dally
2. intrusually foll bywith to deal playfully or carelessly (with something dangerous or serious); trifle

   the motorcyclist flirted with death

3. intrusually foll bywith to think casually (about); toy (with)

   to flirt with the idea of leaving

4. intr to move jerkily; dart; flit
5. tr to subject to a sudden swift motion; flick or toss

noun

1. a person who acts flirtatiously

Derived Forms

• ˈflirter, noun
• ˈflirty, adjective
• ˈflirtingly, adverb

Other Words From

• flirt·ing·ly adverb
• flirt·y adjective flirtier flirtiest

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirt¹

First recorded in 1540–50; of expressive origin; compare similar initial cluster in flap, flick ¹, flip ¹ and final elements of squirt, spurt

Word History and Origins

Origin of flirt¹

C16: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

I actually looked up flirtation when people were telling me, “Julia, you are little bit of a flirt.”

From Washington Blade

Having only seen the first couple of episodes, it’s obvious that Adriana is a little bit of a flirt.

From Washington Blade

The girls were so blasé about the men who came in to flirt with them—I mean genuinely blasé.

From The Daily Beast

And Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest would openly flirt with each other on American Idol?

From The Daily Beast

One will not know until the next round—the quarterfinals—when this mediocre Brazil team will once again flirt with defeat.

From The Daily Beast

So too the many variations on its theme, each fueled by our limitless urge to flirt.

From The Daily Beast

“You look like Dave Pirner,” she said to him, meaning the remark to sound like a small insult, but also a flirt.

From The Daily Beast

I like him, said Dinah; he doesnt flirt with the girls; he always talks to the old ladies.

From Project Gutenberg

One can walk, flirt and dance in a Merveilleuse costume, but it is next to impossible to sit down in it.

From Project Gutenberg

Don't flirt with him,—that isn't the rle, but talk kindly to him, and thereby find out all you can about the Everett bunch.

From Project Gutenberg

That confounded money-eating little flirt of a Pansy will give me the royal shake the moment she gets wise.

From Project Gutenberg

There is something in his eye and the expressive flirt of his tail that seems to suggest strange doings.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• tease