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flag1 definition

flag (flag)

noun

  1. a piece of cloth or bunting, often attached to a staff, with distinctive colors, patterns, or symbolic devices, used as a national or state symbol, as a signal, etc.; banner; standard; ensign
  2. Now Rare long feathers or quills, as on a hawk
  3. the tail of a deer
  4. the bushy tail of certain dogs, as setters and some hounds
  5. something, as a tab of metal or cardboard, that is attached to a card, folder, etc. so that it may be found easily, as in a file
  6. Comput. a character, symbol, etc. used to mark data or a record for special attention
  7. Music any of the lines extending from a stem, indicating whether the note is an eighth, sixteenth, etc.

Etymology: LME flagge < flag, in obs. sense “to flutter”

transitive verb flagged, flagging flag′·ging

  1. to decorate or mark with flags
  2. to signal with or as with a flag; esp., to signal to stop: often with down
  3. to send (a message) by signaling
  4. to mark with or as with a flag ( & ) to flag a word for deletion
flag Idioms

dip the flag

to salute by lowering a flag briefly
flag2 definition

flag (flag)

noun

Etymology: ME flagge < ON flaga, slab of stone < IE *plāk-, to spread out, flat < base *plā > plain

flag3 definition

flag (flag)

noun

    1. any of various wild irises with flat fans of sword-shaped leaves and white, blue, or yellow flowers
    2. any of various cultivated irises
  1. sweet flag
  2. cattail
  3. the flower or leaf of any of these plants

Etymology: ME flagge < ?

flag4 definition

flag (flag)

intransitive verb flagged, flagging flag′·ging

  1. to become limp; droop
  2. to lose strength; grow weak or tired his energy flagged

Etymology: 16th c., prob. < ON flǫgra, to flutter < IE base *plāk-, to strike > flaw

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
flag Synonyms

flag

n.

  1. A symbol, especially of a nation, usually on cloth

    banner, standard, pennant, pennon, streamer, colors, ensign, emblem, bunting, gonfalon, oriflamme, jack, Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, Union Jack, tricolor, Jolly Roger.

  2. Iris

    blue flag, fleur-de-lis, sweet flag; see iris.

strike the flag

flag

v.

  1. To signal

    wave, hail, give a sign to; see signal.

  2. To lose strength

    languish, dwindle, wane; see decrease 1, weaken 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

flag Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • truce: By 3.30p.m. letters were exchanged under flags of truce and the fighting ceased, most of the Danish ships and forts being silenced.

Converse of object

  • checker: A short distance ahead, Edgar took the checkered flag to confirm his second victory of the season.

Adjective modifier

  • red: These are difficult people to deal with, they're the people who march in the church parade carrying the red flags.

Modifies a noun

  • iris: Look out for orchids, yellow flag iris, ferns.

Noun used with modifier

  • offside: McBride was looking lively in attack and it took an offside flag to halt his progress as both teams sought that vital early goal.
flag usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

flag quotes

It comes as a great shock around the age of five, six or seven to discover that the flag to which you have pledged yourallegiance, along with everybodyelse, has not pledged its allegiance to you. It comes as a shock to see Gary Cooper killing off the Indians and, although you are rooting for Gary Cooper, that the Indians are you.

-Baldwin,James Arthur

The people's flag is deepest red; It shrouded oft our martyred dead. And ere their limbs grew stiff and cold, Their heart's blood dyed its every fold. Then raise the scarlet standard high! Within its shade we'll live or die. Tho'cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here.

-Connell,James

   By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard around the world.

-Emerson, RalphWaldo

flag quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"flag." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/flag>

APA Style

flag. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/flag

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