Behaving in a playful, teasing way to attract someone's romantic interest without being serious.
From the verb 'flirt,' which emerged in the 1600s from unknown origins, possibly from Old French 'fleureter' (to touch lightly). The '-y' suffix makes it an adjective describing someone who habitually flirts.
Flirting is actually coded language—it involves micro-expressions, tone changes, and subtle touches that happen so fast we often can't explain what made us feel 'flirted with.' Linguists study it because it's how humans test romantic interest before committing to real vulnerability.
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