Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense flaps, present participle flapping, past tense, past participle flapped
1. verb
If something such as a piece of cloth or paper flaps or if you flap it, it moves quickly up and down or from side to side.
Grey sheets flapped on the clothes line. [VERB]
They would flap bath towels from their balconies as they chatted. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: flutter, wave, swing, swish More Synonyms of flap
2. verb
If a bird or insect flaps its wings or if its wings flap, the wings move quickly up and down.
The bird flapped its wings furiously. [VERB noun]
A pigeon emerges, wings flapping noisily, from the tower. [VERB]
Synonyms: beat, wave, thrash, flutter More Synonyms of flap
3. verb
If you flap your arms, you move them quickly up and down as if they were the wings of a bird.
...a kid running and flapping her arms. [VERB noun]
4. countable noun
A flap of cloth or skin, for example, is a flat piece of it that can move freely up and down or from side to side becauseit is held or attached by only one edge.
He drew back the tent flap and strode out into the blizzard.
...a loose flap of skin.
Synonyms: cover, covering, tail, fold More Synonyms of flap
5. countable noun
A flap on the wing of an aircraft is an area along the edge of the wing that can be raised or lowered to control the movement of the aircraft.
...the sudden slowing as the flaps were lowered.
6. countable noun
A flap is a sudden noise or movement made by a bird's wing or by a piece of paper or cloth when it flaps.
Nothing to be heard but the soft flap of a silk banner.
7. singular noun [aNOUN, oft in aN]
Someone who is ina flap is in a state of great excitement, worry, or panic.
[informal]
Why did people get in a flap over nuclear energy?
Wherever he goes there's always a flap.
Synonyms: panic, state [informal], agitation, commotion More Synonyms of flap
More Synonyms of flap
flap in British English
(flæp)
verbWord forms: flaps, flapping or flapped
1.
to move (wings or arms) up and down, esp in or as if in flying, or (of wings or arms) to move in this way
2.
to move or cause to move noisily back and forth or up and down
the curtains flapped in the breeze
3. (intransitive) informal
to become agitated or flustered; panic
4.
to deal (a person or thing) a blow with a broad flexible object
5. (transitive; sometimes foll bydown)
to toss, fling, slam, etc, abruptly or noisily
6. (transitive) phonetics
to pronounce (an (r) sound) by allowing the tongue to give a single light tap against the alveolar ridge or uvula
noun
7.
the action, motion, or noise made by flapping
with one flap of its wings the bird was off
8.
a piece of material, etc, attached at one edge and usually used to cover an opening, as on a tent, envelope, or pocket
9.
a blow dealt with a flat object; slap
10.
a movable surface fixed to the trailing edge of an aircraft wing that increases lift during takeoff and drag during landing
11. surgery
a piece of tissue partially connected to the body, either following an amputation or to be used as a graft
12. informal
a state of panic, distress, or agitation
13. phonetics
an (r) produced by allowing the tongue to give a single light tap against the alveolarridge or uvula
Word origin
C14: probably of imitative origin
flap in American English
(flæp)
noun
1.
anything flat and broad that is attached at one end and hangs loose or covers an opening
the flap of a pocket
2.
the motion or slapping sound of a swinging flap
the flap of an awning
3. Archaic
a blow with something broad and flat; slap
4.
either of the two parts of a book's dust jacket that fold inside the book's covers and that usually contain a summary of the book's contents and a brief biographical sketch of its author
5. Informal
a state of excitement, controversy, or agitation
6. Aeronautics
a pilot-controlled airfoil; esp., a section hinged to the trailing edge of a wing between the aileron and the fuselage, usually used to increase lift or drag
7. Phonetics
a sound articulated with a single rapid touch of the tongue against the roof of the mouth
8. Surgery
a piece of tissue partly detached from the surrounding tissue, as for grafting
verb transitiveWord forms: flapped or ˈflapping
9.
to strike with something flat and broad; slap
10.
to move back and forth or up and down as in beating the air, usually with some noise
a bird flapping its wings
11.
to throw, fling, slam, etc. abruptly or noisily
verb intransitive
12.
to move back and forth or up and down, as in the wind; flutter
13.
to fly or try to fly by flapping the wings
14.
to hang down as a flap
15. Chiefly British, Slang
to become excited or confused
Derived forms
flapless (ˈflapless)
adjective
flappy (ˈflappy)
adjective
Word origin
ME flappe < flappen: prob. echoic
Examples of 'flap' in a sentence
flap
No need to get into a flap about any big change here.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The wind chimes flap when the door opens.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is produced by flapping wings.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Wet costumes are strung onto the back of the boat and flap in the wind, drying for the next stint in the ocean.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
DON'T get in a flap about wrap.
The Sun (2014)
Then simply replace the compost and fold the flaps back down to cover the surface.
The Sun (2015)
The extra space gives birds room to flap their wings and display other natural behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Then choose a number and lift the flap.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The tongue of his belt flaps in the breeze.
Oxenhorn, Harvey Tuning the Rig: A Journey to the Arctic (1990)
Tuck flap of skin underneath the bird to stop stuffing leaking out.
The Sun (2012)
But his flap at the cross for the equaliser was worrying.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
You could hardly flap your wings without hitting at least two more ducks over the head.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They have two large pockets which are positioned behind the saddle flap on either side.
Eccles, Lesley Your First Horse - buying, feeding, caring (1989)
Trade winds flap at the royal palms.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Britain had got into just as much of a flap about the book.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Push back the rubber flap and trip the inside latch.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It had a mesh veil that covered her face and a long flap that covered her stomach area.
The Sun (2013)
Remember that the next time you find yourself enjoying compliments so much they take on the sound of a flapping cape.
Christianity Today (2000)
He flaps as one might, when shocked from deep sleep.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Make one turn with the bandage, then fold down the angled piece of bandage and make another turn to cover the flap.
Eccles, Lesley Your First Horse - buying, feeding, caring (1989)
From time to time they plunge off the hillside, flapping furiously as though their wings are not big enough to maintain their body weight.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If you get too hot or cold you will not be able to perform, and if you have clothes flapping around you will be restricted.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If there's a pocket flap, there has to be a pocket.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
flap
parts of an aircraft, parts of an aircraft, Tack and equipment and their parts
In other languages
flap
British English: flap /flæp/ VERB
If something that is attached at one end flaps, or if you flap it, it moves quickly up and down or from side to side.
The bird flapped its wings.
Grey sheets flapped on the clothes line.
American English: flap
Arabic: يُرَفْرِفُ
Brazilian Portuguese: agitar
Chinese: 拍打
Croatian: lepršati
Czech: třepotat (se)
Danish: blafre
Dutch: flappen
European Spanish: agitarse
Finnish: läpättää
French: claquer
German: schlagen Flügel
Greek: φτερουγίζω
Italian: sbattere
Japanese: パタパタ動かす
Korean: 퍼덕거리다
Norwegian: flakse
Polish: trzepnąć
European Portuguese: agitar
Romanian: a flutura
Russian: хлопать
Latin American Spanish: agitar batir
Swedish: slå dunka
Thai: กระพือปีก
Turkish: kanat çırpmak
Ukrainian: плескати
Vietnamese: đập cánh
British English: flap NOUN
A flap of cloth or skin, for example, is a flat piece of it that can move freely up and down or from side to side because it is held or attached by only one edge.
He drew back the tent flap and strode out into the blizzard.
American English: flap
Brazilian Portuguese: aba
Chinese: 一端固定、可自由掀动的布或皮
European Spanish: solapa
French: rabat
German: Lasche
Italian: lembo
Japanese: 布・皮などのパタパタするもの
Korean: 천이나 피부의 늘어진 부분
European Portuguese: aba
Latin American Spanish: solapa
All related terms of 'flap'
mud flap
a flap on a car, truck etc, to protect the vehicle from mud and debris
TRAM flap
transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap : a piece of tissue, consisting of skin, muscle, and fat , taken from the abdomen of a woman and used in the reconstruction of her breast after mastectomy
wing flap
a control flap on the wing of an aeroplane
split flap
a flap that is located on the under surface of the trailing edge of an aircraft wing and that splits away from the wing structure when rotated downward , producing an increase in lift or drag or both
landing flap
a flap in the undersurface of the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, capable of being moved downward to increase either lift or drag or both, as for landing
Chinese translation of 'flap'
flap
(flæp)
n(c)
[of pocket, envelope, skin]盖(蓋) (gài)
vt
[arms, wings]摆(擺)动(動) (bǎidòng)
vi
[sail, flag]摆(擺)动(動) (bǎidòng)
to be in a flap (about or over sth) (inf) (对(對)某事)慌作一团(團) ((duì mǒushì) huāng zuò yītuán)
1 (verb)
Definition
to move backwards and forwards or up and down, like a bird's wings in flight
Sheets flapped on the clothes line.
Synonyms
flutter
It was silent except for the flags fluttering in the background.
wave
Flags were waving gently in the breeze.
swing
She was swinging a bottle by its neck.
swish
flail
2 (verb)
Definition
to move backwards and forwards or up and down, like a bird's wings in flight
The bird flapped its wings furiously.
Synonyms
beat
Its wings beat slowly.
wave
The protesters were waving banners and shouting.
thrash
He was thrashed with a cane until his skin turned red.
flutter
a butterfly fluttering its wings
agitate
Gently agitate the water with a paintbrush.
wag
The dog was barking and wagging its tail wildly.
vibrate
Her whole body seemed to vibrate with terror.
shake
Shake the rugs well and hang them out.
thresh
3 (verb)
(informal)
There's no point in you flapping around in the kitchen, making your guest feel uneasy.
Synonyms
panic
fuss
She fussed about getting me a drink.
dither mainly British)
1 (noun)
Definition
a piece of material attached at one edge and usually used to cover an opening, such as on a pocket
He drew back the tent flap and strode out.
Synonyms
cover
covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
tail
fold
skirt
tab
a small red tab sewn on to the side of the pocket
overlap
fly
apron
lapel
lappet
2 (noun)
Definition
the action of or noise made by flapping
the gunshot flap of a topsail
Synonyms
flutter
She was in a flutter.
beating
waving
shaking
swinging
bang
banging
swish
3 (noun)
Definition
a state of panic or agitation
(informal)
Wherever he goes, there's always a flap.
Synonyms
panic
state (informal)
agitation
He was in a state of emotional agitation.
commotion
sweat (informal)
She was in a sweat about the exam.
stew (informal)
dither mainly British)
I am in such a dither I forget to put the water in.
fluster
I was in such a fluster that I dropped the lot.
twitter (informal)
tizzy (informal)
mind-fuck (taboo, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agitate
Definition
to shake or stir (a liquid)
Gently agitate the water with a paintbrush.
Synonyms
stir,
beat,
mix,
shake,
disturb,
toss,
rouse,
churn
in the sense of agitation
He was in a state of emotional agitation.
Synonyms
turmoil,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
alarm,
confusion,
excitement,
disturbance,
distraction,
upheaval,
stimulation,
flurry,
outcry,
clamour,
arousal,
ferment,
disquiet,
commotion,
fluster,
lather (informal),
incitement,
tumult,
discomposure,
tizzy, tizz or tiz-woz (informal)
in the sense of covering
Sawdust was used as a hygienic floor covering.
Synonyms
cover,
protection,
coating,
overlay,
housing,
casing,
top,
clothing,
wrapping,
wrap,
shelter,
layer,
blanket,
wrapper
Synonyms of 'flap'
flap
Explore 'flap' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wag
Definition
to move rapidly and repeatedly from side to side or up and down
The dog was barking and wagging its tail wildly.
Synonyms
wave,
shake,
swing,
waggle,
stir,
sway,
flutter,
waver,
quiver,
vibrate,
wiggle,
oscillate
in the sense of wave
Definition
to move freely to and fro
Flags were waving gently in the breeze.
Synonyms
flutter,
flap,
stir,
waver,
shake,
swing,
sway,
ripple,
wag,
quiver,
undulate,
oscillate,
move to and fro
in the sense of wave
Definition
to hold (something) up and move it from side to side in order to attract attention