Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense flags, present participle flagging, past tense, past participle flagged
1. countable noun
A flag is a piece of cloth which can be attached to a pole and which is used as a sign, signal, or symbol of something, especially of a particular country.
The Marines raised the American flag.
They had raised the white flag in surrender.
Synonyms: banner, standard, colours, jack More Synonyms of flag
2. countable noun
A flag is a small piece of paper or cloth attached to a stick or pin which is sold on a flag day or used to mark a particular spot.
3. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
Journalists sometimes refer to the flag of a particular country or organization as a way of referring to the country or organizationitself and its values or power.
The two brothers are riding under the British flag.
The airport was opened by Canadian troops operating under the flag of the UnitedNations.
[Also + of]
4. verb
If you flag or if your spirits flag, you begin to lose enthusiasm or energy.
His enthusiasm was in no way flagging. [VERB]
By 4,000m he was beginning to flag. [VERB]
Synonyms: weaken, fall, die, fail More Synonyms of flag
5. countable noun
A flag is the same as a flagstone.
6. See also flagged
7.
See to fly the flag
Phrasal verbs:
See flag down
See flag up
More Synonyms of flag
flag in British English1
(flæɡ)
noun
1.
a piece of cloth, esp bunting, often attached to a pole or staff, decorated with a design and used as an emblem, symbol, or standard or as a means of signalling
2.
a small paper flag, emblem, or sticker sold on flag days
3. computing
an indicator, that may be set or unset, used to indicate a condition or to stimulate a particular reaction in the execution of a computer program
4. informal short for flag officer, flagship
5. journalism another name for masthead (sense 2)
6.
the fringe of long hair, tapering towards the tip, on the underside of the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as setters
7.
the conspicuously marked tail of a deer
8. a less common name for bookmark
9. Australian and New Zealand
the part of a taximeter that is raised when a taxi is for hire
10.
the pennant-shaped pattern that is formed when a price fluctuation is plotted on a chart, interrupting the steady rise or fall that precedes and then follows it
11. the flag
12. fly the flag
13. show the flag
14. strike the flag
verbWord forms: flags, flagging or flagged(transitive)
15.
to decorate or mark with a flag or flags
16. (often foll by down)
to warn or signal (a vehicle) to stop
17.
to send or communicate (messages, information, etc) by flag
18.
to decoy (game or wild animals) by waving a flag or similar object so as to attract their attention
19.
to mark (a page in a book, card, etc) for attention by attaching a small tab or flag
20. mainly Australian
to draw attention to (something)
21. (foll byaway or by) New Zealand
to consider unimportant; brush aside
Derived forms
flagger (ˈflagger)
noun
flagless (ˈflagless)
adjective
Word origin
C16: of uncertain origin
flag in British English2
(flæɡ)
verbWord forms: flags, flagging or flagged(intransitive)
1.
to hang down; become limp; droop
2.
to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired
Word origin
C16: of unknown origin
flag in British English3
(flæɡ)
noun
1.
any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)
a piece of cloth or bunting, often attached to a staff, with distinctive colors, patterns, or symbolic devices, used as a national or state symbol, as a signal, etc.; banner; standard; ensign
2. [pl.]; Rare
long feathers or quills, as on a hawk
3.
the tail of a deer
4.
the bushy tail of certain dogs, as setters and some hounds
5.
something, as a tab of metal or cardboard, that is attached to a card, folder, etc. so that it may be found easily, as in a file
6. Computing
a character, symbol, etc. used to mark data or a record for special attention
7. Music
any of the lines extending from a stem, indicating whether the note is an eighth, sixteenth, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: flagged or ˈflagging
8.
to decorate or mark with flags
9.
to signal with or as with a flag; esp., to signal to stop
often with down
10.
to send (a message) by signaling
11.
to mark with or as with a flag1 (sense 5) flag1 (sense 6)
to flag a word for deletion
Idioms:
dip the flag
Word origin
LME flagge < flag2, in obs. sense “to flutter”
flag in American English2
(flæg)
verb intransitiveWord forms: flagged or ˈflagging
1.
to become limp; droop
2.
to lose strength; grow weak or tired
his energy flagged
Word origin
16th c., prob. < ON flǫgra, to flutter < IE base *plāk-, to strike > flaw2
flag in American English3
(flæg)
noun
flagstone
Word origin
ME flagge < ON flaga, slab of stone < IE *plāk-, to spread out, flat < base *plā > plain1
flag in American English4
(flæg)
noun
1.
a.
any of various wild irises with flat fans of sword-shaped leaves and white, blue, or yellow flowers