Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense flutters, present participle fluttering, past tense, past participle fluttered
1. verb
If something thin or light flutters, or if you flutter it, it moves up and down or from side to side with a lot of quick, light movements.
Her chiffon skirt was fluttering in the night breeze. [VERB]
...a butterfly fluttering its wings. [VERB noun]
...the fluttering white lace handkerchief. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: beat, bat, flap, tremble More Synonyms of flutter
Flutter is also a noun.
...a flutter of white cloth.
2. verb
If something light such as a small bird or a piece of paper flutters somewhere, it moves through the air with small quick movements.
The paper fluttered to the floor. [VERB adverb/preposition]
The birds were active, whirring and fluttering among the trees. [VERB]
Synonyms: flit, hover, flitter More Synonyms of flutter
3. countable noun
If you have aflutter, you have a small bet on something such as a horse race.
[British, informal]
I had a flutter on five horses. [+ on]
Synonyms: bet, gamble, punt [mainly British], wager More Synonyms of flutter
4. verb
If you say that someone flutters somewhere, you mean that they walk there with quick, light movements, often in a silly way or in a way which suggests that they are nervous.
She'd been fluttering about in the kitchen. [VERB adverb/preposition]
5. verb
If your heart or stomach flutters, you experience a strong feeling of excitement or anxiety.
The look in his eyes made my heart flutter. [VERB]
More Synonyms of flutter
flutter in British English
(ˈflʌtə)
verb
1.
to wave or cause to wave rapidly; flap
2. (intransitive)
(of birds, butterflies, etc) to flap the wings
3. (intransitive)
to move, esp downwards, with an irregular motion
4. (intransitive) pathology
(of the auricles of the heart) to beat abnormally rapidly, esp in a regular rhythm
5.
to be or make nervous or restless
6. (intransitive)
to move about restlessly
7. swimming
to cause (the legs) to move up and down in a flutter kick or (of the legs) to move in this way
8. (transitive) British informal
to wager or gamble (a small amount of money)
noun
9.
a quick flapping or vibrating motion
10.
a state of nervous excitement or confusion
11.
excited interest; sensation; stir
12. British informal
a modest bet or wager
13. pathology
an abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (200 to 400 beats per minute), esp in a regular rhythm, sometimes resulting in heart block
14. electronics
a slow variation in pitch in a sound-reproducing system, similar to wow but occurring at higher frequencies
15.
a potentially dangerous oscillation of an aircraft, or part of an aircraft, caused by the interaction of aerodynamic forces, structural elastic reactions, and inertia
16. swimming flutter kick
17. Also called: flutter tonguing music
a method of sounding a wind instrument, esp the flute, with a rolling movement of the tongue
Derived forms
flutterer (ˈflutterer)
noun
flutteringly (ˈflutteringly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English floterian to float to and fro; related to German flattern; see float
flutter in American English
(ˈflʌtər)
verb intransitive
1.
to flap the wings rapidly, as in short flight or without flying at all
2.
to wave or vibrate rapidly and irregularly
a flag fluttering in the wind
3.
to move with quick vibrations, flaps, etc.
4.
to be in a state of tremulous excitement; tremble; quiver
5.
to move restlessly; bustle
verb transitive
6.
to cause to move in quick, irregular motions
7.
to throw into a state of excitement, alarm, or confusion
noun
8.
a fluttering movement; vibration
9.
a state of excitement or confusion
10.
a condition of the heart in which the contractions are very rapid but generally regular
11.
a potentially destructive vibration of a part of an aircraft, as the wing, caused by aerodynamic forces
12. British
a small gamble or speculation
13.
a.
a rapid fluctuation in the amplitude of a reproduced sound
see also wow2
b.
a flicker in the image on a television screen
Derived forms
flutterer (ˈflutterer)
noun
fluttery (ˈfluttery)
adjective
Word origin
ME floteren < OE flotorian, freq. of flotian < base of fleotan: see fleet2
Examples of 'flutter' in a sentence
flutter
Standards flutter in the breeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Helpful officials flutter around you like butterflies.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Around the ring the first handkerchief began to flutter.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There is some fluttering about when our interview should happen.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now might be the time for a quick flutter on his summer departure.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was a flutter of interest in a couple of resources minnows.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Then they spot a tiny white flag fluttering from the window and relax.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The candles fluttered with the movement of the air from the door to the window.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
The moths themselves are also fluttering about in the daytime in long grass.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There are the flags fluttering defiantly from cars.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Outside the hotel, the flags of all nations still flutter in the breeze.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The more usual scenario is for colossal public art to cause a small flutter, then be ignored.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He was known to enjoy a flutter on the horses, dogs and football matches he was not connected with.
The Sun (2011)
You know summer's just around the corner when you see your first butterfly fluttering around the garden or the park.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Butterfly high notes flutter free.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I reckon that about 50 per cent of them like a flutter on other matches.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
flutter
British English: flutter VERB
If something thin or light flutters, or if you flutter it, it moves up and down or from side to side with a lot of quick, light movements.
Her chiffon skirt was fluttering in the night breeze.