flap

[ flap ]

/ flæp /

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See synonyms for: flap / flapped / flapping / flaps on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), flapped, flap·ping.

to swing or sway back and forth loosely, especially with noise: A loose shutter flapped outside the window.

to move up and down, as wings; flap the wings, or make similar movements.

to strike a blow with something broad and flexible.

Slang. to become excited or confused, especially under stress: a seasoned diplomat who doesn't flap easily.

verb (used with object), flapped, flap·ping.

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

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

to strike with something broad and flat.

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

Phonetics. to pronounce (a sound) with articulation resembling that of a flap: The British often flap their r's.

noun

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.

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

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

a flapping motion.

the noise produced by something that flaps.

a blow given with something broad and flat.

Slang.

a state of nervous excitement, commotion, or disorganization.
an emergency situation.
scandal; trouble.

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

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

Phonetics.

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.
a trill.
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.

Building Trades.

Also called back·flap hinge [bak-flap hinj], /ˈbækˌflæp ˈhɪndʒ/, flap hinge . a hinge having a strap or plate for screwing to the face of a door, shutter, or the like.
one leaf of a hinge.

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Origin of flap

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

OTHER WORDS FROM flap

flap·less, adjectiveun·flap·ping, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use flap in a sentence

He moved the runoff absentee ballot request to a small check box on the flap, along with other less critical parts that nonetheless are required by law, such as that felony line.
How North Carolina’s mail-in envelope got a new, easier-to-use look|Bonnie Berkowitz|October 15, 2020|Washington Post
Flatten the fortune teller so the triangular flaps are on top.
Five classic paper toys you can make when you’re bored (whether you’re in school or not)|John Kennedy|October 7, 2020|Popular-Science
For the winter, they are exploring heat lamps and covered tents with flaps — though that risks at least partly defeating the biggest benefit of outdoor dining, creating a semi-closed space.
Sidewalk Eating: Is It Here to Stay?|Charu Kasturi|October 6, 2020|Ozy
The “butterfly effect” refers, of course, to chaos theory and a 1972 talk, from Edward Lorenz, on whether the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil could set off a tornado in Texas.
Why We Should Eat Crickets. And Other Bug Ideas - Facts So Romantic|Mary Ellen Hannibal|October 2, 2020|Nautilus

The design features a small flap on each side to hold the filter, which sits next to your face and is prone to bunching, especially when you pull the mask down for a drink.
What You Need to Know About Wearing a Face Mask Outside|Joe Lindsey|September 30, 2020|Outside Online
The figure enters the elevator and is then seen quickly leaving the mall, black cloth flapping behind it.
Middle East Murder Mystery: Who Killed an American Teacher in Abu Dhabi?|Chris Allbritton|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Or maybe we just need one of those bogus “alien invasions” that Paul Krugman is always flapping his gums about.
This One Picture of Telly Savalas Refutes All Fears That Progress Has Ended|Nick Gillespie|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Figures in white robes, like night-shirts, flickered through the blue gloom, slippers flapping from heels.
Olivia Manning, Married to the War|Lauren Elkin|June 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Jar Jar Binks: "a wrist-flapping, deer-faced twit of an alien with the voice of a Jamaican drag-queen."
The Great Robert Hughes|Michael Tomasky|August 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Wingnuts were flapping their wings when far-left liberals got all misty-eyed talking about “Uncle Joe” Stalin.
America's 9 Worst Demagogues|John Avlon|September 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But, later, he grew afraid of the shadows of window-curtains and the flapping of doors and the creaking of shutters.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
The regular Korean man's hat, with its flapping wings, was next put on, and this part of the ceremony was complete.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
She felt her sails flapping about her, but none the less was she determined to reach her goal if she had to get out and swim.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
There's Raphael singing, Gabriel accompanying him on the harp, and all the angels flapping their wings to express their joy.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell
The whole ceiling was covered with glow-worms and light-blue bats that were flapping their thin wings.
Rudy and Babette|Hans Christian Andersen

British Dictionary definitions for flap

flap

/ (flæp) /

verb flaps, flapping or flapped

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

to move or cause to move noisily back and forth or up and downthe curtains flapped in the breeze

(intr) informal to become agitated or flustered; panic

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

(tr sometimes foll by down) to toss, fling, slam, etc, abruptly or noisily

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

noun

the action, motion, or noise made by flappingwith one flap of its wings the bird was off

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

a blow dealt with a flat object; slap

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

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

informal a state of panic, distress, or agitation

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

Word Origin for flap

C14: probably of imitative origin

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

flap

Origin of flap

OTHER WORDS FROM flap

Words related to flap

How to use flap in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for flap

Word Origin for flap