FLIRTING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does flirting mean? 

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

1. playful behavior intended to arouse sexual interest

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLIRTING (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 ("flirting" 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)

flirt (behave carelessly or indifferently)

 Context examples 

Mother doesn't approve of flirting even in fun, and you do flirt desperately, Teddy.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

There was a group of shabbily dressed men smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with cigars in their mouths.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Have you had any flirting?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

And there, as they slowly paced the gradual ascent, heedless of every group around them, seeing neither sauntering politicians, bustling housekeepers, flirting girls, nor nursery-maids and children, they could indulge in those retrospections and acknowledgements, and especially in those explanations of what had directly preceded the present moment, which were so poignant and so ceaseless in interest.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Feelings rather natural than heroic possessed her; instead of considering her own dignity injured by this ready condemnation—instead of proudly resolving, in conscious innocence, to show her resentment towards him who could harbour a doubt of it, to leave to him all the trouble of seeking an explanation, and to enlighten him on the past only by avoiding his sight, or flirting with somebody else—she took to herself all the shame of misconduct, or at least of its appearance, and was only eager for an opportunity of explaining its cause.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Everyone rides—old men, stout ladies, little children—and the young folks do a deal of flirting here, I saw a pair exchange rose buds, for it's the thing to wear one in the button-hole, and I thought it rather a nice little idea.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

She saw all the glories of the camp—its tents stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young and the gay, and dazzling with scarlet; and, to complete the view, she saw herself seated beneath a tent, tenderly flirting with at least six officers at once.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

She was flirting her fan and laughing at the feeble jokes of a young gentleman who tried to be witty, when she suddenly stopped laughing and looked confused, for just opposite, she saw Laurie.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

So busy was she on this day that she did not hear Laurie's ring nor see his face peeping in at her as she gravely promenaded to and fro, flirting her fan and tossing her head, on which she wore a great pink turban, contrasting oddly with her blue brocade dress and yellow quilted petticoat.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)