flaunt

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

flaunt, v. i. [Cf. dial. G. flandern to flutter, wave; perh. akin to E. flatter, flutter.].

 To throw or spread out; to flutter; to move ostentatiously; as, a flaunting show.  [1913 Webster]
"You flaunt about the streets in your new gilt chariot."  [1913 Webster]
"One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade."  [1913 Webster]

flaunt, v. t. 

 To display ostentatiously; to make an impudent show of.  [1913 Webster]

flaunt, n. 

 Anything displayed for show.  [1913 Webster]
"In these my borrowed flaunts."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

flaunt, v. & n.
--v.tr. & intr.
1 (often refl.) display ostentatiously (oneself or one's finery); show off; parade (liked to flaunt his gold cuff-links; flaunted themselves before the crowd).

Usage

Often confused with flout.
2 wave or cause to wave proudly (flaunted the banner).
--n. an act or instance of flaunting.

Derivative

flaunter n. flaunty adj.

Etymology

16th c.: orig. unkn.

THESAURUS

flaunt

advertise, affect, air, betoken, blazon forth, boast, brag, brandish, breathe, bring forth, bring forward, bring into view, bring out, bring to notice, broadcast, dangle, declare, demonstrate, develop, disclose, discover, display, disport, divulge, dramatize, emblazon, embody, enact, evidence, evince, exhibit, expose, expose to view, express, flap, flash, float, flourish, flutter, fly, gasconade, give sign, give token, highlight, hold up, illuminate, incarnate, indicate, make clear, make plain, manifest, materialize, mean, parade, perform, present, proclaim, produce, publish, put forth, put forward, represent, reveal, roll out, set forth, shake, show, show forth, show off, sport, spotlight, swing, token, trot out, trumpet, trumpet forth, undulate, unfold, vaunt, wag, wave, wield, wigwag

ROGET THESAURUS

flaunt

Repute

VB be conscious of glory, be proud of, exult, be vain of, be distinguished, shine, shine forth, figure, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, rival, surpass, outshine, outrival, outvie, outjump, emulate, eclipse, throw into the shade, cast into the shade, overshadow, live, flourish, glitter, flaunt, gain honor, acquire honor, play first fiddle, bear the palm, bear the bell, lead the way, take precedence, take the wall of, gain laurels, win laurels, gain spurs, gain golden opinions, take one's degree, pass one's examination, make a noise, make some noise, make a noise in the world, leave one's mark, exalt one's horn, blow one's horn, star it, have a run, be run after, come into vogue, come to the front, raise one's head, enthrone, signalize, immortalize, deify, exalt to the skies, hand one's name down to posterity, consecrate, dedicate to, devote to, enshrine, inscribe, blazon, lionize, blow the trumpet, crown with laurel, confer honor on, reflect honor on, shed a luster on, redound, to one's honor, ennoble, give honor to, do honor to, pay honor to, render honor to, honor, accredit, pay regard to, dignify, glorify, sing praises to, lock up to, exalt, aggrandize, elevate, nobilitate.

Ostentation

VB be ostentatious, come forward, put oneself forward, attract attention, star it, cut a figure, make a dash, make a splash, make a splurge, cut a dash, cut a splash, cut a splurge, figure, figure away, make a show, make a display, glitter, show off, show off one's paces, parade, march past, display, exhibit, put forward, hold up, trot out, hand out, sport, brandish, blazon forth, dangle, dangle before the eyes, cry up, proner, flaunt, emblazon, prink, set off, mount, have framed and glazed, put a good face upon, put a smiling face upon, clean the outside of the platter.