Definition

1. Noun:

   • A seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men: A person, typically a woman, who habitually flirts with others to gain attention or admiration, often without sincere romantic interest.
   • (Ornithology) A hummingbird: A specific type of small, colorful bird known for its rapid wing movement.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To behave amorously or flirtatiously without serious intentions: To act in a playful, teasing, or enticing manner towards someone, often for amusement or attention rather than with genuine romantic commitment.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She was known as a coquette, charming every man at the party but never committing to any.
  • The coquette, a tiny bird, hovered near the flower.

• Verb:

  • He would often coquette with the waitresses, enjoying the lighthearted banter.
  • She coquetted with the idea of accepting his invitation but ultimately declined.

Advanced Usage

• "to play the coquette": To adopt the role or behavior of a coquette.
  • At the ball, she decided to play the coquette, delighting in the attention it brought her.

Variants and Related Words

• Coquetry (noun): The act or practice of flirting; flirtatious behavior.
  • Her coquetry was both admired and criticized by her peers.
• Coquettish (adjective): Characteristic of a coquette; flirtatious.
  • She gave him a coquettish smile from across the room.

Synonyms

• Noun: Flirt, tease, heartbreaker, vamp.
• Verb: Flirt, dally, trifle, philander.

Related Phrases

• "To coquet with danger": To behave in a way that flirtatiously or playfully engages with a risky situation (an idiomatic extension).
  • By investing all his savings, he was coquetting with financial disaster.

Noun

1. a seductive woman who uses her sex appeal to exploit men

Verb

1. talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions
   • The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries
   • My husband never flirts with other women