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flapping - 2 dictionary results

flap

  [flap] verb, flapped, flap⋅ping, noun
Use flapping in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to swing or sway back and forth loosely, esp. with noise: A loose shutter flapped outside the window.
2. to move up and down, as wings; flap the wings, or make similar movements.
3. to strike a blow with something broad and flexible.
4. Slang. to become excited or confused, esp. under stress: a seasoned diplomat who doesn't flap easily.
–verb (used with object)
5. to move (wings, arms, etc.) up and down.
6. to cause to swing or sway loosely, esp. with noise.
7. to strike with something broad and flat.
8. to toss, fold, shut, etc., smartly, roughly, or noisily.
9. Phonetics. to pronounce (a sound) with articulation resembling that of a flap: The British often flap their r's.
–noun
10. something flat and broad that is attached at one side only and hangs loosely or covers an opening: the flap of an envelope; the flap of a pocket.
11. either of the two segments of a book jacket folding under the book's front and back covers.
12. one leaf of a folding door, shutter, or the like.
13. a flapping motion.
14. the noise produced by something that flaps.
15. a blow given with something broad and flat.
16. Slang.
a. a state of nervous excitement, commotion, or disorganization.
b. an emergency situation.
c. scandal; trouble.
17. Surgery. a portion of skin or flesh that is partially separated from the body and may subsequently be transposed by grafting.
18. Aeronautics. a movable surface used for increasing the lift or drag of an airplane.
19. Phonetics.
a. a rapid flip of the tongue tip against the upper teeth or alveolar ridge, as in the r-sound in a common British pronunciation of very, or the t-sound in the common American pronunciation of water.
b. a trill.
c. a flipping out of the lower lip from a position of pressure against the upper teeth so as to produce an audible pop, as in emphatic utterances containing f-sounds or v-sounds.
20. Building Trades.
a. Also called backflap hinge, flap hinge. a hinge having a strap or plate for screwing to the face of a door, shutter, or the like.
b. one leaf of a hinge.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME flappe a blow, slap, flappen to hit, slap; cf. D flap, flappen

Related forms:
flapless, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To flapping
flap   (flāp)   
n.  
  1. A flat, usually thin piece attached at only one side.
  2. A projecting or hanging piece usually intended to double over and protect or cover: the flap of an envelope.
    1. The act of waving or fluttering: the flap of the flag in the wind.
    2. The sound produced by this motion.
  4. A blow given with something flat; a slap.
  5. A variable control surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used primarily to increase lift or drag.
  6. Either of the folded ends of a book jacket that fit inside the front and back covers.
  7. Medicine Tissue that has been partially detached and used in surgical grafting to fill an adjacent defect or cover the cut end of a bone after amputation.
  8. Linguistics A sound articulated by a single, quick touch of the tongue against the teeth or alveolar ridge, as (t) in water. Also called tap1.
  9. Informal A commotion or disturbance: a flap in Congress over the defense budget.
v.   flapped, flap·ping, flaps

v.   tr.
  1. To wave (the arms, for example) up and down.
  2. To cause to move or sway with a fluttering or waving motion.
  3. To hit with something broad and flat; slap.
  4. Informal To fling down; toss.
v.   intr.
  1. To move or sway while fixed at one edge or corner; flutter: banners flapping in the breeze.
  2. To wave arms or wings up and down.
  3. To fly by beating the air with the wings.
  4. Informal To become upset or flustered.

[Middle English flappe, slap.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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