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
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
Those jutting Us are like a flag waving to special immune system proteins called Toll-like receptors.
Here’s why COVID-19 vaccines like Pfizer’s need to be kept so cold | Tina Hesman Saey | November 20, 2020 | Science NewsIf your phone thinks it’s been within six feet of flagged devices for at least 15 minutes in a day, you’ll get an alert that you may have been exposed, including information about what to do next.
Do digital contact tracing apps work? Here’s what you need to know. | Cat Ferguson | November 20, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewThe remaining 5 percent of the roughly 22 million flagged posts in the past quarter were reported by users.
Facebook AI catches 95% of hate speech; company still wants mods back in office | Kate Cox | November 19, 2020 | Ars TechnicaAlthough Facebook patted itself on the back for flagging misinformation, it didn’t have any numbers for how many election-related lies that it missed.
Facebook reveals that massive amounts of misinformation flooded its service during the election | Danielle Abril | November 19, 2020 | FortuneHis narrative — set among the glitzy-rich of Palm Beach — wanders around a bit, but with all the lovingly biting detail, there isn’t a page here that flags.
Best thriller and mystery books of 2020 | Maureen Corrigan, Richard Lipez | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post
Abbott, not yet elected governor, has himself already been flagged as future presidential material.
The names of the three girls were entered into the appropriate databases, and their passports were flagged.
Comparatively, during those same years CBP flagged 21 percent of migrants from other countries for credible fear interviews.
U.S. Extends Protection To Honduran Immigrants | Caitlin Dickson | October 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTObeidi explained that Gordon truly did revise the script in many—not all—places flagged by MPAC.
For Muslims, Howard Gordon’s ‘Tyrant’ Is a Step in the Right Direction | Dean Obeidallah | June 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIf it had been and the system worked, he should have been flagged in Arizona.
Dr. Stanmore came down the flagged path from the smith's cottage, pulling on his gloves.
Uncanny Tales | VariousFor a short time his dissatisfaction with The Oprichnik filled him with such doubt of his powers that his spirits flagged.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky | Modeste TchaikovskyCharity's spirits flagged and disquieting thoughts stole back on her.
Summer | Edith WhartonHis energy never flagged, and his invention was always equal to the emergency.
The broad hearth extended from door to door, being flagged with large smooth stones.
Papers from Overlook-House | Casper Almore
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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