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fleet
structure in the foot is flattened, so that it rests flat on the
ground. People with flat feet cannot walk for very long
distances and so cannot join the army.
flat·fish /'flætfɪʃ/ n pl. -fish or -fishes a sea fish with a thin
flat body, such as a SOLE or PLAICE
flat-'footed adj 1 having FLAT FEET 2 catch someone flat-
footed AmE to surprise someone, usually unpleasantly: My
mother-in-law dropped in and caught us flatfooted, with dirty
dishes piled everywhere.
Flat·iron Build·ing, the /'flaɪərən ˌbɪldɪŋ ˌaɪərən-/ a tall
office building in New York City, built in 1902, which is
shaped like a very large IRON (=the thing you use for making
clothes smooth)
flat·let /'flætlɪt/ n BrE a very small FLAT
flat·ly /'flætlɪ/ adv 1 in a dull level way: 'It's hopeless,' he said
flatly. 2 (especially in expressions of refusal, disagreement
etc) completely; firmly: He flatly denied it. | She flatly
refused to give us any information. ➔ compare FLAT
flat·mate /'flætmeɪt/ n BrE someone who shares a FLAT with
another ➔ compare ROOMMATE
flat·pack fur·ni·ture /'flætpæk ˌfɜːnɪtʃəʳ ˌfɜːnɪ-/ n [U]
furniture that is sold as separate parts in a box, that you put
together at home
CULTURAL NOTE Flatpack furniture is very popular in Britain
because it is cheap and fashionable. Companies such as
IKEA and MFI have many large shops in Britain which sell
flatpack furniture. People sometimes make jokes about
how difficult it can be to follow the instructions, and how
you cannot finish making the furniture because there
always seems to be a piece missing.
'flat ,racing n [U] the sport of horseracing on flat ground
with no jumps ➔ compare STEEPLECHASE
flat 'rate n a fixed rate of payment or fixed charge for a piece
of work
flats /flæts/ n 1 [the P] BrE a block of FLATS: Do you live in the
flats across the road? 2 [P] infml shoes with flat SOLES 3 [P]
FLAT ➔ compare HEELS
'flat share n BrE an arrangement by which people, usually
young people, share a flat with each other
flat 'spin n 1 (in flying) a fast and often uncontrollable drop
while spinning round and round in a level position 2 go
into/be in a flat spin especially BrE infml to go into/be in a state
of excited confusion
flat·ten /'flætn/ v 1 [I;T (OUT)] to make or become flat: The
rabbit was flattened by a passing car. | I flattened myself
against the wall as the soldiers passed. | The hills flatten (out)
as they near the coast. 2 [T] (in music) to play or sing (a
note) flat
flatten out phr v [I] (of an aircraft) to come to an upright
position with the wings parallel to the ground: The plane
did a steep dive and flattened out at 10,000 feet.
flat·ter /'flætəʳ/ v [T] 1 [(он)] to praise (someone) too much
or insincerely, especially in order to gain advantage: He
flattered her (on her cooking). | flattering remarks ➔ compare
COMPLIMENT² 2 [often pass.] to give pleasure to: She was
flattered at the invitation./flattered to be invited/flattered that
they had invited her. 3 (of a picture or photograph) to make
(the person shown there) look better or more beautiful: a
flattering photograph | The picture certainly doesn't flatter
you. 4 flatter oneself to deceive oneself by imagining that
one is more important than one really is: 'They're all
watching me.' 'You flatter yourself!' 5 flatter oneself (that)
to have the pleasant though perhaps mistaken opinion
(that): We flatter ourselves that we provide the best service in
town. —-er n
flat·ter·y /'flætərɪ/ n [U] 1 flattering remarks 2 flattery will
get you nowhere saying you will not gain what you want by
saying flattering things to people
flat·top /'flæt·tɒp||-tɑːp/ n AmE infml a man's haircut which is
short and flat on top —flat-top adj: a flat-top haircut
flat·u·lence /'flætʃʊləns||-tʃə-/ n [U] fml (the feeling of
discomfort caused by) too much gas in the stomach —-lent
adj
flat·ware /'flætˌweəʳ/ n [U] AmE knives, forks, and spoons;
CUTLERY
Flau·bert, Gus·tave /'fləʊbeəʳ||fləʊ'beəʳ,
'gʊstɑːv||'gʌs-/ (1821–80) a French writer best known for the
novel Madame Bovary
flaunt /flɔːnt||flɔːnt, flɑːnt/ v [T] derog to show (oneself or
something one is proud of) for public admiration; make
(something) too plain: She was flaunting her new fur coat. | I
dislike the way he flaunts his success.
flau·tist /'flɔːtɪst/ BrE || flutist AmE — n someone who plays
the FLUTE
fla·vour¹ BrE || flavor AmE /'fleɪvəʳ/ n 1 [C] a taste; a quality
that only the tongue can experience: This dish has a strong
flavour of cheese. | Choose from six popular flavours! 2 [U]
the quality of tasting good or pleasantly strong: This bread
hasn't much flavour/has plenty of flavour. 3 [S] a particular
quality or character: This newspaper has a sporting fla-
vour. 4 flavour of the month the idea, plan, person etc,
which is the most popular at present 5 -flavoured
/'fleɪvəd||-vərd/ having the stated flavour: strawberry-
flavoured ice cream —-less adj
flavour² BrE || flavor AmE — v [T(with)] to give flavour to: She
flavoured the cake with chocolate.
fla·vour·ing BrE || flavoring AmE /'fleɪvərɪŋ/ n [C;U] some-
thing added to food to give or improve the flavour: All their
products are free from artificial colourings and flavourings.
flaw¹ /flɔː/ n [(in)] a fault or weakness that makes something
not perfect: The flaw in this stamp makes it less valuable. |
Your argument has one fatal flaw.
flaw² v [T] to make a flaw in: The scar flawed her beauty. | a
flawed masterpiece
flaw·less /'flɔːləs/ adj perfect; with no flaw: a flawless gem |
a flawless performance —-ly adv
flax /flæks/ n [U] 1 a plant with blue flowers, that is grown
for its stem and oily seeds 2 the thread made from the stems
of this plant, used for making LINEN
flax·en /'flæksən/ adj especially lit (of hair) pale yellow
flay /fleɪ/ v [T] 1 to remove the skin from: They flayed the
dead horse. 2 lit to whip violently 3 to attack severely in
words: The newspapers really flayed him.
flea /fliː/ n 1 a small jumping insect without wings that
feeds on the blood of humans and animals ➔ see picture at
INSECT 2 a flea in one's ear infml a short severe scolding
(SCOLD), especially that makes one feel foolish: He tried to
kiss her, but she sent him off with a flea in his ear.
flea·bag /'fliːbæg/ n 1 especially BrE a dirty disliked person or
animal: She loves her cat, but nobody else can bear the old
fleabag. 2 especially AmE a cheap dirty hotel
flea·bite /'fliːbaɪt/ n 1 the bite of a flea 2 especially BrE a
small problem or cost: I lost £5 at the races, but that's only a
fleabite.
'flea ,collar n a collar worn by a cat or a dog which contains
special chemicals to keep fleas away from the animal
'flea ,market n a market usually in the street, where old or
used goods are sold
flea·pit /'fliːˌpɪt/ n BrE infml humor a cheap dirty cinema or
theatre
fleck¹ /flek/ n [(of)] a small mark or spot; a grain: She wore a
brown blouse with flecks of red. | flecks of dust
fleck² v [T(with); often pass.] to mark or cover with flecks: The
grass under the trees was flecked with sunlight.
fledg·ling, fledg·eling /'fledʒlɪŋ/ n a young bird that has
developed wing feathers and is learning to fly; fig the
fledgling (=new or young) republic
flee /fliː/ v fled /fled/ [I;T] especially lit to escape (from) by
hurrying away, especially because one is afraid: The specta-
tors fled in panic when the bull got loose. | We were forced to
flee the country. (=go abroad for safety)
fleece¹ /fliːs/ n 1 [C] a sheep's woolly coat ➔ see also
GOLDEN FLEECE 2 [U] an artificial soft material used to make
warm jackets 3 [C] BrE a jacket made of this artificial
material
fleece² v [T] infml to rob by a trick; charge too much money:
They really fleeced us at that hotel!
fleec·y /'fliːsɪ/ adj (seeming) woolly like a fleece: a fleecy
nightgown
fleet¹ /fliːt/ n [C+sing./pl. v] 1 a number of ships under one