flagging

[ flag-ing ]

/ ˈflæg ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flagging ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

becoming smaller or weaker; dwindling.

weak, fatigued, or drooping.

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DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

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Origin of flagging

First recorded in 1535–45; flag³ + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM flagging

flag·ging·ly, adverb

Words nearby flagging

flagellosis, flagellum, flageolet, flagfish, flagg, flagging, flaggy, flagitious, flagler, flagman, flagon

Definition for flagging (2 of 5)

flagging²

[ flag-ing ]

/ ˈflæg ɪŋ /

noun

flagstones collectively.

a pavement or walk of flagstones.

Origin of flagging

First recorded in 1615–25; flag⁴ + -ing¹

Definition for flagging (3 of 5)

flag¹

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

a piece of cloth, varying in size, shape, color, and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, and used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization, as a means of signaling, etc.; ensign; standard; banner; pennant.

Ornithology. 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.
masthead(def 1).
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.

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

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.

Origin of flag

1475–85; perhaps blend of flap (noun) and fag¹ (noun) in obsolete sense “flap”

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

flag·ger, nounflag·less, adjective

Definition for flagging (4 of 5)

flag³

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

verb (used without object), flagged, flag·ging.

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

1535–45; perhaps blend of of flap (v.) and fag¹ (v.) in obsolete sense “to droop”. See flag¹

SYNONYMS FOR flag

1 dwindle, wilt, slump, sag, wane.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flag ON THESAURUS.COM

Definition for flagging (5 of 5)

flag⁴

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

flagstone(def 1).

flags, flagstone(def 2).

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to pave with flagstones.

Origin of flag

⁴

1400–50; late Middle English flagge piece of sod; akin to Old Norse flaga slab

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

flag·ger, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for flagging

Sounds to me like Pew conducted its survey by flagging down cars full of stoned teenagers and asking nosy questions.
P.J. on the Owl-Monkey Project and the Science of Chick Flicks|P. J. O’Rourke|April 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Within Aleppo, the Assad regime controls the balance of power, but its public support is flagging.
Aleppo Conflict Map Shows Assad’s Control By Neighborhood|David Kilcullen, Nate Rosenblatt|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even humor, the usual respite of the British, seems to be flagging in the wake of an unusually grey winter.
What a Sad Little Empire Britain Has Become|Janine di Giovanni|March 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And Democratic support is flagging, with a 15-point gap between Republican support for Israel and Democratic support.
How Many Democrats Booed Jerusalem at the DNC?|Gil Troy|September 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Yet improving conditions for those workers—particularly in the industrial heartland—could save his flagging presidency.
Despite Obama’s Policies, The Rust Belt’s Revival Could Save His Campaign|Joel Kotkin|June 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
At times it would seem that, poor, tired man, he had to feed his flagging invention from a dictionary of quotations.
Irish Plays and Playwrights|Cornelius Weygandt
Unflagging, un-flag′ing, adj. not flagging or drooping: maintaining strength or spirit.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
They resumed their journey with flagging spirits, but had not gone far when they perceived Le Clerc approaching at a distance.
Astoria|Washington Irving
The charge for flagging round the pump, for "logs, stone and workmanship," was £5 2s.
Toronto of Old|Henry Scadding
Then Leonie assembled her flagging forces and struck out with renewed zest.
Love's Usuries|Louis Creswicke

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (1 of 5)

flagging

/ (ˈflæɡɪŋ) /

noun

flagstones or a flagged area

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (2 of 5)

flag¹

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

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

verb flags, flagging or flagged (tr)

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

Derived forms of flag

flagger, nounflagless, adjective

Word Origin for flag

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (3 of 5)

flag²

/ (flæɡ) /

verb flags, flagging or flagged (intr)

to hang down; become limp; droop

to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired

Word Origin for flag

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (4 of 5)

flag³

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)

the leaf of any such plant

Word Origin for flag

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Dutch flag, Danish flæg yellow iris

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (5 of 5)

flag⁴

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

short for flagstone

verb flags, flagging or flagged

(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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flagging

adjective

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Origin of flagging

OTHER WORDS FROM flagging

Words nearby flagging

Definition for flagging (2 of 5)

noun

Origin of flagging

Definition for flagging (3 of 5)

noun

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

Origin of flag

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

Definition for flagging (4 of 5)

verb (used without object), flagged, flag·ging.

Origin of flag

SYNONYMS FOR flag

Definition for flagging (5 of 5)

noun

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

Origin of flag

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

Words related to flagging

Example sentences from the Web for flagging

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (1 of 5)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (2 of 5)

noun

verb flags, flagging or flagged (tr)

Derived forms of flag

Word Origin for flag

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (3 of 5)

verb flags, flagging or flagged (intr)

Word Origin for flag

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (4 of 5)

noun

Word Origin for flag

British Dictionary definitions for flagging (5 of 5)

noun

verb flags, flagging or flagged