fluttering definition | Dictionary.com

flut⋅ter

[fluht-er]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to wave, flap, or toss about: Banners fluttered in the breeze.

2.	to flap the wings rapidly; fly with flapping movements.

3.	to move in quick, irregular motions; vibrate.

4.	to beat rapidly, as the heart.

5.	to be tremulous or agitated.

6.	to go with irregular motions or aimless course: to flutter back and forth.

–verb (used with object)

7.	to cause to flutter; vibrate; agitate.

8.	to throw into nervous or tremulous excitement; cause mental agitation; confuse.

–noun

9.	a fluttering movement: He made little nervous flutters with his hands.

10.	a state of nervous excitement or mental agitation: a flutter of anticipation.

11.	flutter kick.

12.	Audio. a variation in pitch resulting from rapid fluctuations in the speed of a recording. Compare wow ² (def. 1).

13.	Chiefly British. a small wager or speculative investment.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME floteren, OE floterian, freq. of flotian to float

Related forms:

flut⋅ter⋅er, noun

flut⋅ter⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
2. See fly ¹ . 10. flurry, twitter, stir, dither.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To fluttering

flut·ter (flŭt'ər)

v. flut·tered, flut·ter·ing, flut·ters

v. intr.

To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner: curtains that fluttered in the breeze.
1. To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.
2. To flap the wings without flying.
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).
To vibrate or beat rapidly or erratically: My heart fluttered wildly.
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.

The act of fluttering.
A condition of nervous excitement or agitation: Everyone was in a flutter over the news that the director was resigning.
A commotion; a stir.
Pathology Abnormally rapid pulsation, especially of the atria or ventricles of the heart.
Rapid fluctuation in the pitch of a sound reproduction resulting from variations in the speed of the recording or reproducing equipment.
Chiefly British A small bet; a gamble: "If they like a flutter, Rick will get them better odds than the bookies" (John le Carré).

[Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian; see pleu- in Indo-European roots.]
flut'ter·er n., flut'ter·y adj.

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