flops

American  

[flops] / flɒps /

noun

Computers.

1. a measure of computer speed, equal to the number of floating-point operations the computer can perform per second (used especially in combination withmega-, giga-, tera- ).

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flops British  

acronym

1. floating-point operations per second: used as a measure of computer processing power (in combination with a prefix)

   megaflops

   gigaflops

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Etymology

Origin of flops

First recorded in 1985–90; shortening of fl(oating-point) op(erations per) s(econd)

Example Sentences

In his new Hollywood memoir “Hits, Flops and Other Illusions,” film and TV veteran Ed Zwick shares a detailed account of his years-long ordeal trying to bring “Shakespeare in Love” to the screen.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2024

The Medford Mail-Tribune had a photo caption, “Fosbury Flops Over the Bar,” after one of his school meets.

From Washington Post • Mar. 14, 2023

The term Fosbury Flop is credited to the Medford Mail-Tribune, which wrote the headline “Fosbury Flops Over the Bar” after one of his high school meets.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 13, 2023

At a factory in Bogota, Columbia, workers make sandals for Combat Flip Flops.

From New York Times • May 30, 2022

Flops were not allowed to carry guns, but each had a whistle and a wooden club as long as my arm.

From "Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli