fluttering

flut·ter

F0209600 (flŭt′ər)v. flut·tered, flut·ter·ing, flut·ters v.intr.1. To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner: curtains that fluttered in the breeze.2. a. To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.b. To flap the wings without flying.3. To move or fall in a manner suggestive of tremulous flight: "Her arms rose, fell, and fluttered with the rhythm of the song" (Evelyn Waugh).4. To vibrate or beat rapidly or erratically: My heart fluttered wildly.5. To move quickly in a nervous, restless, or excited fashion; flit.v.tr. To cause to flutter: "fluttering her bristly black lashes as swiftly as butterflies' wings" (Margaret Mitchell).n.1. The act of fluttering.2. A condition of nervous excitement or agitation: Everyone was in a flutter over the news that the director was resigning.3. A commotion; a stir.4. Medicine Abnormally rapid pulsation, especially of the atria or ventricles of the heart.5. Rapid fluctuation in the pitch of a sound reproduction resulting from variations in the speed of the recording or reproducing equipment.6. Chiefly British A small bet; a gamble: "If they like a flutter, Rick will get them better odds than the bookies" (John le Carré).

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[Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian; see pleu- in Indo-European roots.]

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flut′ter·er n.flut′ter·y adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

fluttering - the motion made by flapping up and downflapping, flap, flutterundulation, wave - (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth

Translations

papillonnagevoltigement