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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Flats - 英语词汇详解 (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：apartment (Flats)

Flats 🔊

/flæts/

A set of rooms for living in, usually on one floor of a building. It's a common type of home in cities.

apartment 🔊

➕

/əˈpɑːrtmənt/

A set of rooms for living in, typically on one floor of a building, common in urban areas.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Old English 'flet', meaning floor or dwelling, later specific to apartments.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a flat floor — a flat is a single-level home on one floor.

📖 Example

When I moved to the city for my first job, I rented a small flat in a quiet neighbourhood. 🔊 When I moved to the city for my first job, I rented a small flat in a quiet neighbourhood.

🔗 Collocations

rent a flat – to pay money to live in a flat

flat share – a situation where multiple people share a flat

flatmate – a person who lives in the same flat

🔄 Synonyms

apartment (n.) – A set of rooms for living in, often used in American English for the same concept.

condo (n.) – A flat that is owned rather than rented, common in North America.

suite (n.) – A set of rooms, especially in a hotel or large building.

🌱 Derivatives

flatlet (n.) – A small flat, typically consisting of a single room.

flatmate (n.) – A person sharing a flat with another.

📖 Cultural Story

In British English, 'flat' has been used since the 19th century for multi-story residential units, contrasting with American 'apartment'.

Meaning 2：flats (Flats)

Flats 🔊

/flæts/

Shoes with a very low heel or no heel at all, making them flat to the ground. They are comfortable for walking.

flats 🔊

➕

/flæts/

Shoes with a completely flat sole, without any heel, designed for comfort and ease of walking.

📁 Category：Fashion Trends 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

For the long walking tour, she wisely packed a pair of comfortable flats instead of high heels. 🔊 For the long walking tour, she wisely packed a pair of comfortable flats instead of high heels.

🔗 Collocations

comfortable flats – flats that are pleasant to wear for long periods

dress flats – stylish flats suitable for formal occasions

ballet flats – a style of flat shoes inspired by ballet slippers

🔄 Synonyms

ballet flats (n.) – A type of flat shoe that is very simple and often made of soft material.

loafers (n.) – Slip-on shoes that are usually flat or have a low heel, but some have a slight heel.

🚫 Antonyms

heels (n.) – Shoes with a raised heel, often high and uncomfortable.

stilettos (n.) – Very high, thin-heeled shoes.