Lewis & Short

flātus, ūs, m. [flo], a blowing, breathing, snorting (mostly poet.; syn.: flamen, flabra, ventus, aura).

  1. I. Lit.: nondum spissa nimis complere sedilia flatu (sc. tibiae), Hor. A. P. 205; Phaedr. 5, 7, 14: flatuque secundo, Carbasa mota sonant, Ov. M. 13, 418; so of the wind, id. ib. 14, 226; Hor. C. 4, 5, 10; also in plur., Ov. M. 15, 302; Verg. G. 2, 339: ipsa sui flatus ne sonet aura, cavet, of his breath, Ov. F. 1, 428: (equi) humescunt spumis flatuque sequentum, with the snorting, Verg. G. 3, 111; in plur.: aestiferi, Cic. Arat. 111: ventris (with crepitus), a breaking wind, Suet. Claud. 32: flatu figuratur vitrum, Plin. 36, 26, 66, § 193.
    1. B. Transf., concr., the breath of life, the soul, Prud. στεφ. 3, 168.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. A breath, breeze (the fig. being taken from wind): cum prospero flatu fortunae utimur, ad exitus pervehimur optatos, Cic. Off. 2, 6, 19: ad id, unde aliquis flatus ostenditur, vela do, id. de Or. 2, 44, 187.
    2. B. Pride, haughtiness (mostly in plur.): det libertatem fandi flatusque remittat, Verg. A. 11, 346; Ov. A. A. 1, 715; Val. Fl. 3, 699; Stat. Th. 1, 321; 3, 192.