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wing beat

noun
  1. a complete cycle of moving the wing by a bird when flying
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

Examples from the Web for wing beat

Historical Examples of wing beat

  • There is no need, here, to muffle the sound of the wing-beat.

    Birds in Flight

    W. P. Pycraft

  • But as the wing-beat increased in speed the lower loop gradually faded out.

    Birds in Flight

    W. P. Pycraft

  • There must be somewhat on which its wing-beat shall fall, stepping stones for its hurrying feet.

    Among the Forces

    Henry White Warren

  • But the first wing-beat of true love sends it far beyond such struggles.

    The Hated Son

    Honore de Balzac

  • The first wing-beat hurled Professor Ravenden headlong with a broken collar-bone.

    The Flying Death

    Samuel Hopkins Adams