flaunt

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to display something ostentatiously so that it attracts notice or admiration

   He liked to flaunt his wealth by arriving in a different sports car each week.

2. 2
   verb

   literary or historical: to wave or flutter conspicuously in the wind

   A bright flag flaunted above the ruined building in the morning breeze.

3. 3
   noun

   a conspicuous or ostentatious display

   The jeweled carriage was an extravagant flaunt of royal wealth.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Flaunt appeared in the mid-16th century with the sense “display ostentatiously,” but its origin is unknown. Despite frequent confusion, it is unrelated to flout, meaning “openly disregard.”

Of uncertain North Germanic origin, perhaps related to Norwegian flanta, 'to show off or wander about,' Icelandic flana, 'to rush heedlessly,' or Swedish forms meaning 'to wave or hang loosely.' The older sense of waving or fluttering conspicuously gave rise to the modern sense of ostentatious display.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary