FLIRTATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does flirtation mean? 

• FLIRTATION (noun)
  The noun FLIRTATION has 1 sense:

1. playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest

  Familiarity information: FLIRTATION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLIRTATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

coquetry; dalliance; flirt; flirtation; flirting; toying

Hypernyms ("flirtation" is a kind of...):

caper; frolic; gambol; play; romp (gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement)

Derivation:

flirt (talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions)

 Context examples 

Gossip as other girls do, and be interested in dress and flirtations and whatever nonsense comes up.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

They had known about love and life and flirtation, while she knew nothing about such things.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Their conversation turned upon those subjects, of which the free discussion has generally much to do in perfecting a sudden intimacy between two young ladies: such as dress, balls, flirtations, and quizzes.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Since the —shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, flirtation, and officers have been in her head.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

There was nothing like flirtation between her and her partner.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

If this event within four days of March 9 (possibly taking place over the weekend of March 7-8) is a personal social event, you might enjoy a flirtation with someone interesting, which could grow into something more.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

She spoke of you with high praise and warm affection; yet, even here, there was alloy, a dash of evil; for in the midst of it she could exclaim, 'Why would not she have him? It is all her fault. Simple girl! I shall never forgive her. Had she accepted him as she ought, they might now have been on the point of marriage, and Henry would have been too happy and too busy to want any other object. He would have taken no pains to be on terms with Mrs. Rushworth again. It would have all ended in a regular standing flirtation, in yearly meetings at Sotherton and Everingham.'

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

A little harmless flirtation or so will occur, and one is often drawn on to give more encouragement than one wishes to stand by.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

For a day or two after the affront was given, Henry Crawford had endeavoured to do it away by the usual attack of gallantry and compliment, but he had not cared enough about it to persevere against a few repulses; and becoming soon too busy with his play to have time for more than one flirtation, he grew indifferent to the quarrel, or rather thought it a lucky occurrence, as quietly putting an end to what might ere long have raised expectations in more than Mrs. Grant.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Her character will be fixed, and she will, at sixteen, be the most determined flirt that ever made herself or her family ridiculous; a flirt, too, in the worst and meanest degree of flirtation; without any attraction beyond youth and a tolerable person; and, from the ignorance and emptiness of her mind, wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal contempt which her rage for admiration will excite.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)