flap

American  

[flap] / flæp /

verb (used without object)

• flaps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• flapped,
  past participle,  past
• flapping
  present participle

1. to swing or sway back and forth loosely, especially 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, especially under stress.

   a seasoned diplomat who doesn't flap easily.

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verb (used with object)

• flaps,
  present (3rd person singular)
• flapped,
  past participle,  past
• flapping
  present participle

1. to move (wings, arms, etc.) up and down.

2. to cause to swing or sway loosely, especially with noise.

3. to strike with something broad and flat.

4. to toss, fold, shut, etc., smartly, roughly, or noisily.

5. Phonetics. to pronounce (a sound) with articulation resembling that of a flap.

   The British often flap their r's.

noun

• flaps
  plural

1. 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.

2. either of the two segments of a book jacket folding under the book's front and back covers.

3. one leaf of a folding door, shutter, or the like.

4. a flapping motion.

5. the noise produced by something that flaps.

6. a blow given with something broad and flat.

7. Slang.

   1. a state of nervous excitement, commotion, or disorganization.

   2. an emergency situation.

   3. scandal; trouble.

8. Surgery. a portion of skin or flesh that is partially separated from the body and may subsequently be transposed by grafting.

9. Aeronautics. a movable surface used for increasing the lift or drag of an airplane.

10. Phonetics.

    1. 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.

    2. a trill.

    3. 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.

11. Building Trades.

    1. 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.

    2. one leaf of a hinge.

flap British  

/ flæp /

verb

1. to move (wings or arms) up and down, esp in or as if in flying, or (of wings or arms) to move in this way

2. to move or cause to move noisily back and forth or up and down

   the curtains flapped in the breeze

3. informal (intr) to become agitated or flustered; panic

4. to deal (a person or thing) a blow with a broad flexible object

5. to toss, fling, slam, etc, abruptly or noisily

6. (tr) phonetics to pronounce (an (r) sound) by allowing the tongue to give a single light tap against the alveolar ridge or uvula

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noun

1. the action, motion, or noise made by flapping

   with one flap of its wings the bird was off

2. a piece of material, etc, attached at one edge and usually used to cover an opening, as on a tent, envelope, or pocket

3. a blow dealt with a flat object; slap

4. a movable surface fixed to the trailing edge of an aircraft wing that increases lift during takeoff and drag during landing

5. surgery a piece of tissue partially connected to the body, either following an amputation or to be used as a graft

6. informal a state of panic, distress, or agitation

7. phonetics an (r) produced by allowing the tongue to give a single light tap against the alveolar ridge or uvula

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• flapless
  adjective
• unflapping
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• flaps
  plural

Participles

• flapping
  present
• flapped
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• flap
  simple
• flaps
  simple
• have flapped
  perfect
• has flapped
  perfect
• am flapping
  progressive
• are flapping
  progressive
• is flapping
  progressive
• have been flapping
  perfect progressive
• has been flapping
  perfect progressive

Past

• flapped
  simple
• had flapped
  perfect
• was flapping
  progressive
• were flapping
  progressive
• had been flapping
  perfect progressive

Future

• will flap
  simple
• will have flapped
  perfect
• will be flapping
  progressive
• will have been flapping
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of flap

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English flappe “a blow, slap,” flappen “to hit, slap”; compare Dutch flap, flappen

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Explanation

You're probably familiar with the verb to "flap," which is what birds do with their wings. But as a noun, a flap is a fuss, an argument, or a gossipy feud. A big part of the pleasure of reality TV shows is watching how quickly a person can start a flap. A dumb remark, a furtive glance, a missed phone call: any of these things can start the characters bickering. And the flap can go on for an entire season! One way to remember the meaning of the verb to flap is to imagine the sound of many wings flapping. That's the sound a flap might make if you could hear it. The leak from the senator's press agent might have caused a firestorm. Instead it resulted in just a minor flap.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flap flaps flapped flapping

That’s clearly targeting a customer who is now priced out of flap bags selling for $10,000 and up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

"The flap deployment here happened much later in the accident sequence," Rojas said.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Thousands tuned in to a popular livestream set up by Friends of Big Bear Valley, to watch the juvenile eagle, nicknamed Luna, flap its wings and glide to a nearby tree for the first time.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Some beachgoers say that when they flap in the wind, Shibumis are so loud that it’s hard to hold a conversation under or even near one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026

The dragon’s feet lift off the ground and its wings flap, kicking up dust again.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

The minuscule yet distinctly humanoid figure of a fairy flaps its wings as it flies into the ancient ruins of a bygone kingdom.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Airbus has similarly shut two sites in Salaunes and Mérignac, where it makes critical components ranging from cockpit seat structures to fuselage sections, nose cones and wing flaps for its lineup of commercial aircraft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

As the valve tissue degenerates, the thin flaps that should meet neatly can thicken, stretch, or lose their normal shape.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026

Airbus investigated this incident and found that space weather had corrupted data in an elevator aileron computer which sends commands to the plane's flaps.

From BBC ● Dec. 6, 2025

The dove tested its wings with a couple of flaps, then soared away in a blinding flurry of white.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers

A string of miniature national flags flapped in the wind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

Rew flapped at the ball gloved down the leg side off Archer, much to the displeasure of the bowler.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Tide tables have become the stuff of national interest, and rare moments when the exhausted whale has blown water or flapped its fin have warranted breaking news bulletins.

From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026

A U.S. flag flapped on a pole just above a Hanwha company flag.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2025

The startled bird tumbled from its perch, let loose a shrill whistle, and flapped its wings in panic.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

SHANGRI-LA, China—When China’s masses want to experience the Tibet of chanting, crimson-robed monks and prayer flags flapping in the wind, they don’t go to Tibet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

This newer design has larger flapping wings that support more agile flight.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

When the BBC visited the airbase at Keflavik this month, fighter jets were taking off, and the Stars and Stripes was flapping alongside the Belgian tricolour and Nato flags.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., one of the two famous eaglets — later identified as Sandy — was flapping her wings on a branch just outside the nest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026

“Sit here,” Bridget said as she rose from the toilet lid, flapping her hands before taking her spot in front of the mirror.

From "The Line Tender" by Kate Allen

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