flirtation

flirt +‎ -ation

• IPA^(key): /flɚˈteɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

flirtation (countable and uncountable, plural flirtations)

1. Playing at courtship; coquetry.
   • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 4, in The Dust of Conflict‎:

     The inquest on keeper Davidson was duly held, and at the commencement seemed likely to cause Tony Palliser less anxiety than he had expected. Northrop knew all about Tony's flirtation with Lucy Davidson, but it also knew a good deal more about that lady than Tony did, and exculpated him.

2. An instance of flirting.

• flirt

• roving eye

• filtration, triflation