26984 words

flap

12 definitions • 17 examples
1
to wave something, especially wings when or as if flying:

Examples:

A small bird flapped its wings furiously and flew off.
Flags flapped in the breeze above their tents.
2
to behave in a nervous and excited way:

Examples:

Don't flap - there's plenty of time to cook before they arrive.
flap about Stop flapping about!
flap around My mother sat and waited while I flapped around trying to hurry things up.
3
a piece of cloth or other material fixed along one edge, especially used for covering or closing something:

Examples:

a pocket flap
a tent flap (= a piece of cloth that acts like a door)
A small flap of skin can be seen above the wound.
4

Examples:

in a flap She's in a flap because her parents are coming to visit.
I can sometimes get into a flap about things.
5

Examples:

She claimed to have had an affair with the candidate, which produced a huge media flap.
6
part of the back of an aircraft wing that can be moved up or down to help the aircraft go up or down
7
the action of a bird waving its wings when flying, or of something else moving in this way:

Examples:

A few flaps of its long wings and the bird was gone.
8
a consonant sound made when the tongue moves forward and down, and quickly touches the alveolar ridge
9
(of a bird’s wings) to wave up and down while flying, or (of objects that cannot fly) to move quickly from side to side or up and down:

Examples:

[ T ] A small bird flapped its wings.
[ I ] Flags flapped in the breeze.
10
a piece of cloth or other material attached along one edge to something else:

Examples:

a pocket/tent flap
11
a state of excitement or worry:

Examples:

She caused a big flap when she told her husband about her parents’ visit.
12
a waving movement from side to side or up and down:

Examples:

The bird flew into the air with a flap of its wings.

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