lavish praise and compliments on (someone), often insincerely and with the aim of furthering one’s own interests:she was flattering him in order to avoid doing what he wanted
cause (someone) to feel honoured and pleased: [with object and infinitive]:I was very flattered to be given the commission [with object and clause]:she felt flattered that he was confiding in her
(flatter oneself) choose to believe something favourable about oneself, typically when this belief is unfounded:‘Don’t flatter yourself! I wasn’t doing it for your benefit!’
give an unrealistically favourable impression of:the final scoreline flattered England
(of a colour or a style of clothing) cause (someone) to appear to the best advantage:the fuchsia shade flattered her pale skin
archaic please (the ear or eye):the beauty of the stone flattered the clergyman’s eyes
