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flurry

 - 3 dictionary results

flur⋅ry

[flur-ee, fluhr-ee] noun, plural -ries, verb, -ried, -ry⋅ing.
–noun
1. a light, brief shower of snow.
2. sudden commotion, excitement, or confusion; nervous hurry: There was a flurry of activity before the guests arrived.
3. Stock Exchange.
a. a brief rise or fall in prices.
b. a brief, unusually heavy period of trading.
4. a sudden gust of wind.
–verb (used with object)
5. to put (a person) into a flurry; confuse; fluster.
–verb (used without object)
6. (of snow) to fall or be blown in a flurry.
7. to move in an excited or agitated manner.

Origin:
1680–90, Americanism; b. flutter and hurry


flur⋅ried⋅ly, adverb


2. upset, pother, stir, to-do, fuss, fluster, ado.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To flurry
flur·ry   (flûr'ē, flŭr'ē)   
n.   pl. flur·ries
  1. A brief, light snowfall.

    1. A sudden gust of wind.

    2. A stirring mass, as of leaves or dust; a shower.

  2. A sudden burst or commotion; a stir: a flurry of interest in the new product; a flurry of activity when the plane landed.

  3. A short period of active trading, as on a stock exchange.

v.   flur·ried, flur·ry·ing, flur·ries

v.   tr.
To agitate, stir, or confuse.
v.   intr.
To move or come down in a flurry.

[Perhaps from flurr, to scatter.]
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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Word Origin & History

flurry 
"snow squall" 1828, Amer.Eng., probably from 17c. flurr "to scatter, fly with a whirring noise," perhaps from M.E. flouren "to sprinkle, as with flour." Sense of "commotion" first recorded 1710.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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