flat

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a level tract of land

   the salt flats of Utah

2. 2
   adv

   with flat sails

   sail flat against the wind

3. 3
   adj

   commercially inactive

   flat sales for the month

4. 4
   adj

   having a relatively broad surface in relation to depth or thickness

   flat computer monitors

5. 5
   adj

   having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

   a flat desk

6. 6
   adj

   horizontally level

   a flat roof

7. 7
   adj

   stretched out and lying at full length along the ground

   found himself lying flat on the floor

8. 8
   adj

   having lost effervescence

   flat beer

Etymology

From an alteration (due to Scots flatt (“a level part of a structure”)) of Scots flet, flett (“inner part of a house”), from Middle English flet (“dwelling”), from Old English flet, flett (“ground floor, dwelling”), from Proto-West Germanic *flati, from Proto-Germanic *flatją (“floor”), from Proto-Germanic *flataz (“flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleth₂- (“flat”). Akin to Old Frisian flet, flette (“dwelling, house”). More at flet, flat₁.