flint

noun

ˈflint 

1

: a massive hard dark quartz that produces a spark when struck by steel

2

: an implement of flint used in prehistoric cultures

3

a

: a piece of flint

b

: a material used for producing a spark

especially : an alloy (as of iron and cerium) used in lighters

4

: something resembling flint in hardness

flintlike

ˈflint-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of flint in a Sentence

the flint in a cigarette lighter

Recent Examples on the Web

The battlefield was first discovered in 1996, when an amateur archaeologist found a human arm bone pierced with a flint arrowhead near the Tollense River. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Sep. 2024

Amongst findings of human remains and flint tools, researchers also uncovered a life-size statue of a boar crafted from limestone that showed evidence of painting. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

A long time ago Dozens of bronze and flint arrowheads recovered from the Tollense Valley are revealing details about the able-bodied warriors who fought in the Bronze Age battle. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 28 Sep. 2024

But the most common warfare artifacts were arrowheads: So far, 54 bronze and 10 flint arrowheads have been unearthed in the central valley, and 22 more have been identified both upstream and downstream. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German flins pebble, hard stone

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flint

• flint corn
• flint glass

Kids Definition

flint

noun

ˈflint 

1

: a hard dark quartz that produces a spark when struck by steel

2

a

: a piece of flint

b

: an alloy (as of iron and cerium) used for producing a spark in lighters

3

: something very hard

a heart of flint

flintily

ˈflint-ᵊl-ē

adverb

flintiness

ˈflint-ē-nəs

noun

flinty

-ē

adjective

Geographical Definition

Flint

geographical name

ˈflint 

1

river 265 miles (426 kilometers) long in western Georgia flowing south and southwest into Lake Seminole

2

city in southeast central Michigan north-northwest of Detroit population 102,434

3

or Flintshire

ˈflint-ˌshir 

-shər

administrative area of northeastern Wales bordering England and the Irish Sea area 169 square miles (438 square kilometers), population 152,506

Biographical Definition

Flint

biographical name

ˈflint 

Austin: father 1812–1886 and son 1836–1915 American physicians