- 1having a level surface, not curved or sloping low buildings with flat roofs People used to think the earth was flat. Exercise is the only way to get a flat stomach after having a baby. The sails hung limply in the flat calm (= conditions at sea when there is no wind and the water is completely level).
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- 2(of land) without any slopes or hills The road stretched ahead across the flat landscape. The desert was flat, mile after mile. He reached a flatter section of land near the river.
- 3(of surfaces) smooth and even; without lumps or holes I need a flat surface to write on. We found a large flat rock to sit on. not high
- 4broad but not very high Tortillas are a kind of flat Mexican bread. flat shoes (= with no heels or very low ones) dull
- 5dull; lacking interest or enthusiasm He felt very flat after his friends went home. It was a curiously flat note on which to end the election campaign. voice
- 6not showing much emotion; not changing much in tone Her voice was flat and expressionless. He spoke in a flat Midwestern accent. colors/pictures
- 7very smooth, with no contrast between light and dark, and giving no impression of depth Acrylic paints can be used to create large, flat blocks of color.
- 8not very successful because very little is being sold The housing market has been flat for months. refusal/denial
- 9[only before noun] not allowing discussion or argument; definite Her request was met with a flat refusal. He gave a flat “No!” to one reporter's question. These results are in flat contradiction to the theory of relativity. in music
- 10used after the name of a note to mean a note a half step lower That note should be B flat, not B. opposite sharp compare natural
- 11below the correct pitch (= how high or low a note sounds) The high notes were slightly flat. opposite sharp drink
- 12no longer having bubbles in it; not fresh The soda was warm and had gotten flat.
- 13not containing enough air, usually because of a hole feet
- 14with no natural raised curves underneath see flat-footed
level
noun [uncountable]Idioms
completely flat The country around here is as flat as a pancake.
in bed because you are sick She's been flat on her back for over a week now. (figurative) The bonds market was flat on its back (= business was very bad).See flat in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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