Search results for 'flap':

flap verb (flapped, flapping) 1 tr & intr to wave something up and down, or backwards and forwards • He was flapping his arms all over the place. 2 tr & intr said of a bird: to move (the wings) up and down; to fly with pronounced wing movements. 3 intrans, colloq (often flap about or around) to get into or be in a panic or flustered state • She was always flapping about her work. noun 1 a broad piece or part of something attached along one edge and hanging loosely, usually as a cover to an opening • pocket flaps. 2 an act, sound or impact of flapping. 3 colloq a panic; a flustered state • She was always in a flap about her work. 4 a hinged section on an aircraft wing adjusted to control speed. 5 phonetics a sound produced by a rapid single light tap of the tongue against the alveolar ridge or uvula as the tip is lowered, eg r in some pronunciations of very. flappable adj easily perturbed, agitated, irritated, flustered, etc. Opposite of the much commoner unflappable. flappy adj.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: probably imitative.