Ask Difference

Flat vs. Flattened — What's the Difference?

By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 6, 2024
Flat describes a smooth, even surface with no irregularities, while flattened refers to something made flat through an action.
Flat vs. Flattened — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Flat and Flattened

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Key Differences

Flat characterizes an object or surface that is naturally level or smooth without any bumps or depressions. It is commonly used to describe landscapes, surfaces, or even abstract concepts like a flat organizational structure. On the other hand, flattened implies that an object was made flat by compression or flattening action, suggesting a change from a previous form.
Flat is often used in a static, descriptive sense. For example, describing a flat tire emphasizes the tire's lack of inflation naturally perceived as flat due to deflation. Whereas flattened is dynamic and typically involves an action that alters an object's shape, like a can being crushed.
When considering geometry or physical attributes, flat can denote a lack of three-dimensional depth or curvature. This can apply to things like a flat screen or flat land. Conversely, flattened describes the process or result of making something flat, such as dough rolled out into a flat shape.
In everyday language, flat can also mean blunt in terms of taste or even in affect, suggesting something lacking in variation or intensity. In contrast, flattened can carry a more figurative meaning, such as being emotionally flattened, indicating a state induced by external circumstances.
Flat may also imply equality or uniformity in context, such as a flat rate where everyone pays the same amount regardless of usage. Flattened, however, can imply a reduction to a common level, often used metaphorically to describe social or economic leveling.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Having a smooth, level surface
Made smooth or level by compression

Usage

Descriptive, static
Dynamic, involves action

Common Contexts

Surfaces, shapes, charges
Actions affecting shape or form

Connotation

Natural state, uniformity
Result of an action, changed state

Examples

Flat landscape, flat soda
Flattened cardboard, flattened emotions

Compare with Definitions

Flat

Completely level, without raised areas or indentations.
They chose a flat area to set up the camp.

Flattened

Made to appear less important or prominent.
His comments were flattened by the overwhelming opposition.

Flat

Lacking interest or emotion.
The lecture was delivered in a flat, monotonous voice.

Flattened

Defeated or demoralized.
The team felt flattened after the unexpected loss.

Flat

Fixed at one rate irrespective of usage.
The taxi offered a flat fare for any destination in the city.

Flattened

Reduced in volume or effect.
The image was flattened to a two-dimensional perspective for the print.

Flat

Not sparkling or effervescent.
The soda went flat after being open for too long.

Flattened

Physically pressed down.
The box was flattened under the weight of heavier objects.

Flat

Even and smooth in musical pitch.
The note sounded flat, lacking sharpness.

Flattened

Made flat by compression or rolling.
The dough was flattened into a thin layer before baking.

Flat

Having a level surface; without raised areas or indentations
He sat down on a flat rock
Trim the surface of the cake to make it completely flat

Flattened

To make flat or flatter.

Flat

Lacking emotion; dull and lifeless
‘I'm sorry,’ he said, in a flat voice

Flattened

To knock down; lay low
The boxer was flattened with one punch.

Flat

(of a sparkling drink) having lost its effervescence
She sipped some of the flat champagne

Flattened

To become flat or flatter.

Flat

(of a fee, wage, or price) the same in all cases, not varying with changed conditions or in particular cases
A flat fare of £2.50

Flattened

Made flat by something.
We removed the fallen tree from the flattened car.

Flat

(of musical sound) below true or normal pitch.

Flattened

Simple past tense and past participle of flatten
The tree fell on the car and flattened it.

Flat

Relating to flat racing
The Flat season

Flattened

Shaped like a thin sheet.

Flat

In or to a horizontal position
She had been knocked flat by the blast
He was lying flat on his back

Flattened

Flattened laterally along the whole length e.g. certain leafstalks or flatfishes.

Flat

Completely; absolutely
I thought you'd turn me down flat
Myers was flat broke

Flattened

Having been flattened

Flat

Below the true or normal pitch of musical sound
It wasn't a question of singing flat, but of simply singing the wrong notes

Flat

The flat part of something
She placed the flat of her hand over her glass

Flat

An upright section of stage scenery mounted on a movable frame.

Flat

A flat tyre
I've got a flat—there were nails under the wheel

Flat

Flat racing.

Flat

A musical note lowered a semitone below natural pitch.

Flat

A set of rooms forming an individual residence, typically on one floor and within a larger building containing a number of such residences.
A block of flats

Flat

Lower (a note) by a semitone
‘blue’ harmony emphasizing the flatted third and seventh

Flat

Make flat; flatten
Flat the loaves down

Flat

Live in or share a flat
Zoë flats in Auckland

Flat

Having a smooth, even surface
A flat field.

Flat

Having a relatively broad level surface in relation to thickness or depth
A flat box.

Flat

Being in horizontal position; lying down
Flat on his back.

Flat

Being without slope or curvature
A flat line on a chart.

Flat

Having a low heel or no heel
Flat shoes.

Flat

Free of qualification; absolute
A flat refusal.

Flat

Fixed; unvarying
A flat rate.

Flat

Lacking interest or excitement; dull
A flat scenario.

Flat

Lacking in flavor
A flat stew that needs salt.

Flat

Having lost effervescence or sparkle
Flat beer.

Flat

Deflated. Used of a tire.

Flat

Electrically discharged. Used of a storage battery.

Flat

Of or relating to a horizontal line that displays no ups or downs and signifies the absence of physiological activity
A flat electroencephalogram indicates a loss of brain function.

Flat

Of or relating to a hierarchy with relatively few tiers or levels
A flat organization chart.

Flat

Commercially inactive; sluggish
Flat sales for the month.

Flat

Unmodulated; monotonous
A flat voice.

Flat

Lacking variety in tint or shading; uniform
"The sky was bright but flat, the color of oyster shells" (Anne Tyler).

Flat

Not glossy; matte
Flat paint.

Flat

Being below the correct pitch.

Flat

Being one half step lower than the corresponding natural key
The key of B flat.

Flat

Designating the vowel a as pronounced in bad or cat.

Flat

(Nautical) Taut. Used of a sail.

Flat

(Informal) Having small breasts.

Flat

Level with the ground; horizontally.

Flat

On or up against a flat surface; at full length.

Flat

So as to be flat.

Flat

Directly; completely
Went flat against the rules.
Flat broke.

Flat

Exactly; precisely
Arrived in six minutes flat.

Flat

(Music) Below the intended pitch.

Flat

(Business) Without interest charge.

Flat

A flat surface or part.

Flat

Often flats A stretch of level ground
Salt flats.

Flat

A shallow frame or box for seeds or seedlings.

Flat

A movable section of stage scenery, usually consisting of a wooden frame and a decorated panel of wood or cloth.

Flat

A flatcar.

Flat

A deflated tire.

Flat

A shoe with a flat heel.

Flat

A large flat piece of mail.

Flat

A horse that competes in a flat race. Also called runner.

Flat

A sign (♭) used to indicate that a note is to be lowered by a semitone.

Flat

A note that is lowered a semitone.

Flat

(Football) The area of the field to either side of an offensive formation.

Flat

An apartment on one floor of a building.

Flat

(Archaic) A story in a house.

Flat

To make flat; flatten.

Flat

(Music) To lower (a note) a semitone.

Flat

To sing or play below the proper pitch.

Flat

Having no variations in height.
The land around here is flat.

Flat

In a horizontal line or plane; not sloping.
A flat roof

Flat

Smooth; having no protrusions, indentations or other surface irregularities, or relatively so.
The surface of the mirror must be completely flat.
The carpet isn't properly flat in that corner.
She has quite a flat face.

Flat

(slang) Having small or invisible breasts and/or buttocks.
That girl is completely flat on both sides.

Flat

Without variation in level, quantity, value, tone etc.
The exchange rate has been flat for several weeks.

Flat

At a consistently depressed level; consistently lacklustre.
Sales have been flat all year, and we've barely broken even.

Flat

Of fees, fares etc., fixed; unvarying.
A flat fee
Flat rates
A flat fare on public transport

Flat

Without variations in pitch.
He delivered the speech in a flat tone.

Flat

(of colours) Without variation in tone or hue (uniform), and dull (not glossy).
The walls were painted a flat gray.

Flat

(figurative) Lacking liveliness or action; depressed; uninteresting; dull and boring.
The party was a bit flat.
The market is flat today as most traders are on holiday.
The dialogue in your screenplay is flat — you need to make it more exciting.

Flat

Lacking in depth, substance, or believability; underdeveloped; one-dimensional.
The author added a chapter to flesh out the book's flatter characters.

Flat

Lowered by one semitone.

Flat

(music) Of a note or voice, lower in pitch than it should be.
Your A string is flat.

Flat

Absolute; downright; peremptory.
His claim was in flat contradiction to experimental results.
I'm not going to the party and that's flat.

Flat

(of a tire or other inflated object) Deflated, especially because of a puncture.

Flat

(of a carbonated drink) With all or most of its carbon dioxide having come out of solution so that the drink no longer fizzes or contains any bubbles.

Flat

(wine) Lacking acidity without being sweet.

Flat

(of a battery) Unable to emit power; dead.

Flat

Without spin; spinless.

Flat

Sonant; vocal, as distinguished from a sharp (non-sonant) consonant.

Flat

(grammar) Not having an inflectional ending or sign, such as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix; or an infinitive without the sign "to".
Many flat adverbs, as in 'run fast', 'buy cheap', etc. are from Old English.

Flat

Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft.

Flat

Flattening at the ends.

Flat

(of measurements of time) Exact.
He finished the race in a flat four minutes.

Flat

So as to be flat.
Spread the tablecloth flat over the table.

Flat

Bluntly.
I asked him if he wanted to marry me and he turned me down flat.

Flat

(of accurately measured timings) Exactly, precisely.
In the mile race, Smith's time was 3:58.56, and Brown's was four minutes flat.

Flat

Used to emphasize the smallness of the measurement.
He can run a mile in four minutes flat.

Flat

Completely.
I am flat broke this month.

Flat

Directly; flatly.

Flat

Without allowance for accrued interest.
The bonds are trading flat.

Flat

An area of level ground (sometimes covered with water).
The hovercraft skimmed across the open flats.
The eastern end of the salt flat; mud flat, tidal flat, flood flat

Flat

(in the phrase 'the flat') Level ground in general.
I can run on the flat but not up hills.
The going will be easier once we're through these mountains and onto the flat.

Flat

Level horse-racing ground, as contrasted with courses incorporating jumps, or the racing done on such ground.
This horse will do better over the flat.
Flat racing, the flat season

Flat

The area in the centre of a racecourse.

Flat

(music) A note played a semitone lower than a natural, denoted by the symbol ♭ placed after the letter representing the note (e.g., B♭) or in front of the note symbol (e.g. ♭♪).
The key of E♭ has three flats.

Flat

A flat tyre/flat tire.

Flat

(in the plural) A type of ladies' shoe with a very low heel.
She liked to walk in her flats more than in her high heels.

Flat

(in the plural) A type of flat-soled running shoe without spikes.

Flat

(painting) A thin, broad brush used in oil and watercolour painting.

Flat

The flat part of something:

Flat

(swordfighting) The flat side of a blade, as opposed to the sharp edge.

Flat

The palm of the hand, with the adjacent part of the fingers.

Flat

A wide, shallow container or pallet.
A flat of strawberries

Flat

(mail) A large mail piece measuring at least 8 1/2 by 11 inches, such as catalogs, magazines, and unfolded paper enclosed in large envelopes.

Flat

A railroad car without a roof, and whose body is a platform without sides; a platform car or flatcar.

Flat

A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught.

Flat

(geometry) A subset of n-dimensional space that is congruent to a Euclidean space of lower dimension.

Flat

A straw hat, broad-brimmed and low-crowned.

Flat

A flat sheet for use on a bed.

Flat

(publishing) A flat, glossy children's book with few pages.

Flat

A platform on a wheel, upon which emblematic designs etc. are carried in processions.

Flat

(mining) A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.

Flat

(technical, theatre, stagecraft) A rectangular wooden structure covered with masonite, lauan, or muslin, often produced in standard modules, that is used to build wall surfaces on stage. Flats can be painted and outfitted with doors and/or windows to depict a building or other part of a scene. It's a hard-surfaced alternative to a backcloth orbackdrop.

Flat

(entomology) Any of various hesperiid butterflies that spread their wings open when they land.

Flat

(historical) An early kind of toy soldier having a flat design.

Flat

(obsolete) A dull fellow; a simpleton.

Flat

(optics) A flat (i.e. plane) mirror

Flat

A cheater's die with the edges shaved to make certain rolls more likely.

Flat

An apartment, usually on one level and usually consisting of more than one room.

Flat

(poker slang) To make a flat call; to call without raising.

Flat

(intransitive) To become flat or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface.

Flat

To fall from the pitch.

Flat

To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

Flat

To make flat; to flatten; to level.

Flat

To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.

Flat

To beat or strike; pound

Flat

(transitive) To dash or throw

Flat

(intransitive) To dash, rush

Flat

Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.
Though sun and moonWere in the flat sea sunk.

Flat

Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.
What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat!
I feel . . . my hopes all flat.

Flat

Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest.
A large part of the work is, to me, very flat.

Flat

Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.

Flat

Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitableSeem to me all the uses of this world.

Flat

Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.

Flat

Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.
Flat burglary as ever was committed.
A great tobacco taker too, - that's flat.

Flat

Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat.

Flat

Sonant; vocal; - applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.

Flat

Having a head at a very obtuse angle to the shaft; - said of a club.

Flat

Not having an inflectional ending or sign, as a noun used as an adjective, or an adjective as an adverb, without the addition of a formative suffix, or an infinitive without the sign to. Many flat adverbs, as in run fast, buy cheap, are from AS. adverbs in -ë, the loss of this ending having made them like the adjectives. Some having forms in ly, such as exceeding, wonderful, true, are now archaic.

Flat

Flattening at the ends; - said of certain fruits.
Of all who fell by saber or by shot,Not one fell half so flat as Walter Scott.

Flat

In a flat manner; directly; flatly.
Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty.

Flat

Without allowance for accrued interest.

Flat

A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats.
Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat.

Flat

A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand.
Half my power, this nightPassing these flats, are taken by the tide.

Flat

Something broad and flat in form

Flat

The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.

Flat

A floor, loft, or story in a building;

Flat

A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.

Flat

A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull.
Or if you can not make a speech,Because you are a flat.

Flat

A character [$] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.

Flat

A homaloid space or extension.

Flat

To make flat; to flatten; to level.

Flat

To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.
Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted.

Flat

To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

Flat

To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface.

Flat

To fall form the pitch.

Flat

A level tract of land

Flat

A shallow box in which seedlings are started

Flat

A musical notation indicating one half step lower than the note named

Flat

Freight car without permanent sides or roof

Flat

A deflated pneumatic tire

Flat

Scenery consisting of a wooden frame covered with painted canvas; part of a stage setting

Flat

A suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

Flat

Having a horizontal surface in which no part is higher or lower than another;
A flat desk
Acres of level farmland
A plane surface

Flat

Having no depth or thickness

Flat

Not modified or restricted by reservations;
A categorical denial
A flat refusal

Flat

Stretched out and lying at full length along the ground;
Found himself lying flat on the floor

Flat

Lacking contrast or shading between tones

Flat

Lowered in pitch by one chromatic semitone;
B flat
C sharp

Flat

Flattened laterally along the whole length (e.g., certain leafstalks or flatfishes)

Flat

Lacking taste or flavor or tang;
A bland diet
Insipid hospital food
Flavorless supermarket tomatoes
Vapid beer
Vapid tea

Flat

Lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting;
A bland little drama
A flat joke

Flat

Having lost effervescence;
Flat beer
A flat cola

Flat

Not increasing as the amount taxed increases

Flat

Not made with leavening;
Most flat breads are made from unleavened dough

Flat

Parallel to the ground;
A flat roof

Flat

Without pleats

Flat

Lacking the expected range or depth; not designed to give an illusion or depth;
A film with two-dimensional characters
A flat two-dimensional painting

Flat

(of a tire) completely or partially deflated

Flat

Not reflecting light; not glossy;
Flat wall paint
A photograph with a matte finish

Flat

Lacking variety in shading;
A flat unshaded painting

Flat

At full length;
He fell flat on his face

Flat

With flat sails;
Sail flat against the wind

Flat

Below the proper pitch;
She sang flat last night

Flat

Against a flat surface;
He lay flat on his back

Flat

In a forthright manner; candidly or frankly;
He didn't answer directly
Told me straight out
Came out flat for less work and more pay

Flat

Wholly or completely;
He is flat broke

Common Curiosities

Can emotions be flat?

Yes, emotions can be described as flat if they are dull, unenthusiastic, or lack intensity.

What does it mean for a tire to be flat?

A flat tire means it has lost its air and is not inflated, causing it to be level with the ground.

What does a flat note mean in music?

A flat note in music refers to a note that is slightly lower in pitch than the standard.

How does one flatten an image in graphic design?

To flatten an image in graphic design means to merge all layers into one, eliminating any layer-based editing capabilities.

How does a landscape become flattened?

A landscape becomes flattened through natural processes like erosion or human activities such as land clearing and construction.

Can a company have a flat structure?

Yes, a company can have a flat structure, where there are few or no levels of middle management between staff and executives.

What are the consequences of a flattened economy?

A flattened economy typically sees reduced economic disparities but may also experience reduced incentives for innovation and investment.

Is flat always negative when describing a performance?

Flat is often used negatively when describing a performance, implying it lacks liveliness, energy, or variation.

What is the process of flattening in cooking?

In cooking, flattening often refers to the process of rolling or beating food items, like dough or chicken breasts, to make them thinner and more even.

What does it mean to flatten a curve in data analysis?

To flatten a curve in data analysis means to reduce the peaks in the data to make it more uniform or less volatile.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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