Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To ignore or disregard (a rule or convention, for example) in an open or defiant way.
  • transitive verb Archaic To express contempt for; mock or jeer at.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To play on the flute.
  • noun A mock; a scoff; a gibe.
  • To mock; jeer; scoff; behave with disdain or contumely: with at before an object.
  • To mock or scoff at; treat with disdain or contempt.
  • Synonyms See taunt.
  • noun A flute.
  • noun A boys' whistle.
  • noun A truss or bundle.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To practice mocking; to behave with contempt; to sneer; to fleer; -- often with at.
  • transitive verb To mock or insult; to treat with contempt.
  • noun A mock; an insult.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To express contempt for the rules by word or action.
  • verb To scorn.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb treat with contemptuous disregard
  • verb laugh at with contempt and derision

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Perhaps from Middle English flouten, to play the flute, from Old French flauter, from flaute, flute; see flute.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Perhaps from Middle English flouten, to play the flute; compare with Dutch fluiten.

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Examples

Comments

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  • "Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn

    By dressing it in rags."

    - Alfred Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King

    November 20, 2007

  • I will prove to you that my love has grown, that it is greater to me than my class and all that is dearest to me. All that is dearest to the bourgeoisie I will flout. I am no longer afraid of life.

    Jack London, Martin Eden

    January 2, 2012