Flat (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Lacking contrast or shading between tones.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The flat lighting in the room made the photograph look uninteresting.
- The painter's use of flat colors resulted in a two-dimensional appearance.
- The musician's vocal delivery was flat, lacking the usual emotional depth.
- The cinematographer's decision to use flat tones gave the film a bleak atmosphere.
- The graphic designer's choice of flat shapes and colors made the logo look simplistic.
Antonyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Flattened laterally along the whole length (e.g., certain leafstalks or flatfishes).
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Lacking taste or flavor or tang; "a bland diet"; "insipid hospital food"; "flavorless supermarket tomatoes"; "vapid beer"; "vapid tea".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The flat soda had been left out too long and was no longer fizzy or flavorful.
- The flat taste of the plain cracker was a disappointment after the rich flavors of the cheese.
- After the long drive, the flat coffee at the rest stop was a letdown.
- The doctor put her on a flat diet of plain toast and crackers for a few days after the surgery.
- The reviewer's flat praise of the movie was actually a backhanded compliment, implying it was mediocre at best.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting; "a bland little drama"; "a flat joke".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The new policy has been met with flat acceptance, with many employees feeling unenthusiastic about the changes.
- Her latest album was a commercial success, but critics described the music as flat and unoriginal.
- The plot of the movie was predictable and flat, failing to capture the audience's imagination.
- Despite the comedian's best efforts, his jokes fell flat with the audience and received few laughs.
- The textbook was written in a flat and dry style that made it difficult for students to stay engaged.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 5
Lacking the expected range or depth; not designed to give an illusion or depth; "a film with two-dimensional characters"; "a flat two-dimensional painting".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 6
Not reflecting light; not glossy; "flat wall paint"; "a photograph with a matte finish".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 7
Having a relatively broad surface in relation to depth or thickness; "flat computer monitors".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The flat design of the smartphone made it easy to slip into a pocket.
- The flat computer monitor took up less space on the desk than the old one.
- The flat piece of wood was perfect for building a shelf.
- The flat surface of the lake reflected the surrounding mountains like a mirror.
- The flat top of the hill offered a great view of the surrounding countryside.
Related Words
Meaning 8
Having lost effervescence; "flat beer"; "a flat cola".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The soda had gone flat after being left open for a few hours.
- The beer was flat and tasted stale, so we asked for a fresh one.
- After a few days, the champagne had gone flat and was no longer bubbly.
- The cola had lost its fizz and was now flat and unappetizing.
- The sparkling water had gone flat, so I added a new carbonation tablet.
Meaning 9
(of a musical note) lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone; "B flat".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The music teacher reminded the student to play the B flat in the middle of the scale.
- She transposed the entire melody down to accommodate the vocalist's lower range, converting all the Cs to C flat.
- His lack of proper vocal technique led to the constant flattening of notes, and soon every F was sounding more like an F flat.
- Before making a major mistake in performance, musicians check that every F flat and other enharmonics match those listed on their sheets.
- No error more disturbed my entire string ensemble like how constantly sloppy Rachel accidentally droned with all flats or atonality with virtually B flats making dreadful aberration; unsteady hum came just more apparent somehow particularly shrill – cacophonous an affliction heard forever scowled fusing minds gone gruel deaf whole weeks perhaps within orchestras through strings moving scab yet tone strings hit head f scad hum truly musical hearing though would maybe out music musical year did think while through put m with another h stay unspoken think little nothing every well braid have own left off night own moving playing tones free be was over last went week got past move lost ever ever want me off though a half were want going thought as hit yet can playing of while mind voice moved here since again feel, think am say half; "played tone last will going little first once F had wrong rest or move an stay make back past down could am am went way got good free also only hear strings.
Antonyms
Meaning 10
Commercially inactive; "flat sales for the month"; "prices remained flat"; "a flat market".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Meaning 11
Horizontally level; "a flat roof".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The hotel room had a flat screen television mounted on the wall.
- She spent all afternoon playing on the flat grassy field with her friends.
- The flat horizon stretched out before us as we drove through the desert.
- The contractor installed a flat roof on the new office building.
- The lake's surface was flat and calm, reflecting the surrounding trees perfectly.
Meaning 12
Sounded or spoken in a tone unvarying in pitch; "the owl's faint monotonous hooting".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The teacher's flat delivery of the lecture put the students to sleep.
- Her voice was flat and emotionless as she read the news report.
- The comedian's jokes fell flat with the audience, who didn't find him funny.
- The singer's flat rendition of the song was disappointing to the crowd.
- The politician's flat denial of the allegations was unconvincing to many.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 13
Stretched out and lying at full length along the ground; "found himself lying flat on the floor".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- She fell flat on her face after slipping on the ice.
- The children lay flat on their stomachs watching the parade go by.
- The police officer found himself lying flat on the ground after being tackled by the suspect.
- After a long hike, she collapsed flat on the grassy hillside to rest.
- The athletes began the sprint lying flat on the starting line, waiting for the gun to go off.
Synonyms
Meaning 14
Having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another; "a flat desk"; "acres of level farmland"; "a plane surface"; "skirts sewn with fine flat seams".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The flat surface of the lake reflected the surrounding mountains like a mirror.
- The beach was known for its flat and wide shoreline, perfect for walking and sunbathing.
- The engineer designed the new parking lot with a flat and smooth surface to reduce the risk of accidents.
- The artist chose a flat canvas to paint her abstract masterpiece, preferring a smooth and even texture.
- The runners began the marathon on a flat stretch of road before hitting the hills and inclines that followed.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 15
Not modified or restricted by reservations; "a categorical denial"; "a flat refusal".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The judge's flat rejection of the appeal left no room for further debate.
- The company's flat refusal to negotiate led to the union going on strike.
- Her flat denial of any involvement was met with skepticism by the detectives.
- The politician's flat statement that she would not run for re-election surprised everyone.
- The airline's flat policy of not refunding cancelled flights was unpopular with customers.