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

And I think it was actually even more impressive that a 16-year-old took me under her wing when that’s the time where you want to flirt with people and be cool.

From Los Angeles Times

Eliava, in contrast, was a mischievous charmer who pranked his friends, once dressing as a woman to flirt with d’Hérelle at a dinner party, and kept sketchy notes in the lab.

From Salon

So the Dodgers begin their title defense this week by flirting with baseball’s hottest available star.

From Los Angeles Times

During his campaign, Trump flirted with those boundaries, repeatedly musing about using the military to go after domestic political opponents, or to aid in mass deportations of illegal immigrants.

From Los Angeles Times

Pundits have even flirt with the suggestion that if women just, you know, threw a little more sex in the direction of terrible men, that would calm them down.

From Salon

Related Words

• tease