Definition of flat
flatter;
flattest
1 a
: lying at full length or spread out upon the ground : prostrate
- The soldiers were lying flat on the ground.
b
: utterly ruined or destroyed
- buildings flat from the blast
c
: resting with a surface against something
- Push the chairs flat against the wall.
2 a
: having a continuous horizontal surface
- the flat landscape of the prairie
b
: being or characterized by a horizontal line or tracing without peaks or depressions
- a flat EEG
3
: having a relatively smooth or even surface
- a flat computer disk
4
: arranged or laid out so as to be level or even
- maps flat on the desk
5 a
: having the major surfaces essentially parallel and distinctly greater than the minor surfaces
- a flat piece of wood
b
of a shoe heel
: very low and broad
- flat shoes for work
6 a
: clearly unmistakable
- a flat denial
7 a
: lacking in animation, zest, or vigor : dull
- He spoke in a flat, tired voice.
b
: lacking flavor : tasteless
- The stew is too flat.
c
: lacking effervescence or sparkle
- flat ginger ale
d
: commercially inactive;
also
: characterized by no significant rise or decline from one period to another
- sales were flat
8 a (1)
of a tone
: lowered a half step in pitch
(2)
: lower than the proper pitch
b
of the vowel a
: pronounced as in bad or bat
9 a
: having a low trajectory (see trajectory 1)
- made a flat pass that was intercepted
b
of a tennis stroke
: made so as to give little or no spin to the ball
10
: not having an inflectional ending
- flat adverbs
12 a
: uniform in hue or shade
- figures standing out against a background of flat wash
b
: having little or no illusion of depth
c
of a photograph or negative
: lacking contrast
d
of lighting conditions
: lacking shadows or contours
e
: free from gloss : having a nonreflective finish
- a flat paint
f
: two-dimensional 3
- flat characters
13
: of, relating to, or used in competition on the flat
- a flat horse
14
of a universe
: having a mass such that expansion halts only after infinite time and collapse never occurs
