Flattish

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈflætɪʃ/

Definitions

1. Having a form that is slightly level or smooth but not entirely devoid of contour
2. Possessing characteristics that are nearly flat while exhibiting minor undulations
3. Having a surface or shape that is mostly level with slight unevenness

Etymology: Flattish is a plain formation: the adjective "flat" with the suffix "-ish", meaning "somewhat" or "rather" as in "reddish" or "greenish". The suffix is itself ancient, descending from a Proto-Indo-European root and reaching English through Old English "-isc", which is why it attaches so readily to native words like this one. "Flat" has a longer and more physical story. It traces back through Old Norse "flatr", and before that to a Proto-Germanic form meaning level or spread out, so the core sense has always been about a surface lying low and even. The word's meaning spread outward from that concrete image to cover level ground, a flat tyre, and a flat note in music. The "-ish" ending therefore softens that sense into something approximate: a surface that is not perfectly level but comes close enough to be called flat with a qualification.

Synonyms: slightly flat, levelish

Antonyms: hilly, uneven