flag
1Ornithology. the tuft of long feathers on the legs of falcons and most hawks; the lengthened feathers on the crus or tibia.
Hunting. the tail of a deer or of a setter dog.
Journalism.
the nameplate of a newspaper.
the name of a newspaper as printed on the editorial page.
a tab or tag attached to a page, file card, etc., to mark it for attention.
Music. hook1 (def. 12a).
Movies, Television. a small gobo.
Usually flags . the ends of the bristles of a brush, especially a paintbrush, when split.
Computers. a symbol, value, or other means of identifying data of interest, or of informing later parts of a program what conditions earlier parts have encountered.
to place a flag or flags over or on; decorate with flags.
to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag (sometimes followed by down): to flag a taxi; to flag down a passing car.
to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag.
to decoy, as game, by waving a flag or the like to excite attention or curiosity.
to mark (a page in a book, file card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs.
(of a brush) to split the ends of the bristles.
Idioms about flag
strike the flag, : Also strike one's flag.
to relinquish command, as of a ship.
to submit or surrender: His financial situation is growing worse, but he's not ready to strike the flag.
Origin of flag
1Other words from flag
- flagger, noun
- flagless, adjective
Words Nearby flag
Other definitions for flag (2 of 4)
any of various plants with long, sword-shaped leaves, as the sweet flag.
the long, slender leaf of such a plant or of a cereal.
Origin of flag
2Other definitions for flag (3 of 4)
to fall off in vigor, energy, activity, interest, etc.: Public enthusiasm flagged when the team kept losing.
to hang loosely or limply; droop.
Origin of flag
3Other words for flag
Other definitions for flag (4 of 4)
flags, flagstone (def. 2).
to pave with flagstones.
Origin of flag
4Other words from flag
- flagger, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use flag in a sentence
Let’s say your site was flagged by Google search as having a security issue, be it malware or maybe your site appeared to be hacked.
Google tests reporting security issue false positives in Search Console | Barry Schwartz | August 26, 2020 | Search Engine LandAmid a flagging economy — Pennsylvania was 47th in job creation under his watch — Corbett became in 2014 the first incumbent Pennsylvania governor to lose reelection since 1854.
However, once an account has been flagged as a close relation to a user, it doesn’t stay in the top place for long.
How to optimize for the Instagram algorithm in 2020 | Julia Miashkova | August 19, 2020 | Search Engine WatchThat day, a prominent march was planned at the historic Red Fort, where India’s prime minister traditionally hoists the flag on Independence Day.
How India became the world’s leader in internet shutdowns | Katie McLean | August 19, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewMelnyk said police on Friday arrested a protester who hung a rainbow flag on the gates of Poland’s Justice Ministry.
Poland’s LGBTQ activists confront growing crackdown | Kaela Roeder | August 14, 2020 | Washington Blade
Beyond the huge American flag that hung over the street, the mile-long mass of cops ended.
There is only sand, a white ball, and a flag indicating the hole.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art | Alec Kubas-Meyer | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen the game starts, there is only sand, a white ball, a flag indicating hole 1, and a “0” at the top of the screen.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art | Alec Kubas-Meyer | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTBut quite unlike the schmuck, and this is the fun part, they never run up the white flag; indeed quite the opposite.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game | Michael Tomasky | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTOne of the honor guard approached with slow, measured steps and presented the flag to a uniformed captain.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos | Michael Daly | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTruly the flag of Britain was trailing in the mire, or these men would not have dared to address him in that fashion.
The Red Year | Louis TracyA white woman, Mrs. Henry Jacobi, who had been taken prisoner early in the month, crossed the plain holding a white flag.
The Red Year | Louis TracyDon't you see him right behind that little man in yellow who is carrying a big blue flag?
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeThus shall we see the destinies of this country guided under the orange and red flag.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanA fearsome struggle would surge around that tower where the British flag was flying.
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
British Dictionary definitions for flag (1 of 4)
/ (flæɡ) /
a piece of cloth, esp bunting, often attached to a pole or staff, decorated with a design and used as an emblem, symbol, or standard or as a means of signalling
a small paper flag, emblem, or sticker sold on flag days
computing an indicator, that may be set or unset, used to indicate a condition or to stimulate a particular reaction in the execution of a computer program
informal short for flag officer, flagship
journalism another name for masthead (def. 2)
the fringe of long hair, tapering towards the tip, on the underside of the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as setters
the conspicuously marked tail of a deer
a less common name for bookmark
Australian and NZ the part of a taximeter that is raised when a taxi is for hire
the pennant-shaped pattern that is formed when a price fluctuation is plotted on a chart, interrupting the steady rise or fall that precedes and then follows it
the flag (in Victoria, Australia) the Australian Rules premiership
fly the flag to represent or show support for one's country, an organization, etc
show the flag
to assert a claim, as to a territory or stretch of water, by military presence
informal to be present; make an appearance
strike the flag or lower the flag
to relinquish command, esp of a ship
to submit or surrender
to decorate or mark with a flag or flags
(often foll by down) to warn or signal (a vehicle) to stop
to send or communicate (messages, information, etc) by flag
to decoy (game or wild animals) by waving a flag or similar object so as to attract their attention
to mark (a page in a book, card, etc) for attention by attaching a small tab or flag
mainly Australian to draw attention to (something)
(foll by away or by) NZ to consider unimportant; brush aside
Origin of flag
1Derived forms of flag
- flagger, noun
- flagless, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for flag (2 of 4)
/ (flæɡ) /
to hang down; become limp; droop
to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired
Origin of flag
2British Dictionary definitions for flag (3 of 4)
/ (flæɡ) /
any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)
the leaf of any such plant
Origin of flag
3- See also sweet flag
British Dictionary definitions for flag (4 of 4)
/ (flæɡ) /
short for flagstone
(tr) to furnish (a floor) with flagstones
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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