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flap

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The definition of a flap is a thin and flat piece of something attached at one end, a waving motion or sound made by a swinging motion of something hanging loose.

(noun)

An example of a flap is one of the pieces of wool that covers the ears on a cold weather hat.
An example of a flap is the motion a windsock makes while wind is blowing through it.

Flap is defined as to wave arms or wings up and down.

(verb)

An example of flap is what birds do with their wings to fly.

See flap in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

anything flat and broad that is attached at one end and hangs loose or covers an opening: the flap of a pocket
the motion or slapping sound of a swinging flap: the flap of an awning
Archaic a blow with something broad and flat; slap
either of the two parts of a book's dust jacket that fold inside the book's covers and that usually contain a summary of the book's contents and a brief biographical sketch of its author
Informal a state of excitement, controversy, or agitation
Aeron. a pilot-controlled airfoil; esp., a section hinged to the trailing edge of a wing between the aileron and the fuselage, usually used to increase lift or drag
Phonet. a sound articulated with a single rapid touch of the tongue against the roof of the mouth
Surgery a piece of tissue partly detached from the surrounding tissue, as for grafting

Origin: ME flappe < the v.

transitive verb flapped, flapping

to strike with something flat and broad; slap
to move back and forth or up and down as in beating the air, usually with some noise: a bird flapping its wings
to throw, fling, slam, etc. abruptly or noisily

Origin: ME flappen: prob. echoic

intransitive verb

to move back and forth or up and down, as in the wind; flutter
to fly or try to fly by flapping the wings
to hang down as a flap
Chiefly Brit., Slang to become excited or confused

Related Forms:

flapless adjective
flappy adjective

See flap in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A flat, usually thin piece attached at only one side.
A projecting or hanging piece usually intended to double over and protect or cover: the flap of an envelope.
a. The act of waving or fluttering: the flap of the flag in the wind.
b. The sound produced by this motion.
A blow given with something flat; a slap.
A variable control surface on the trailing edge of an aircraft wing, used primarily to increase lift or drag.
Either of the folded ends of a book jacket that fit inside the front and back covers.
Medicine Tissue that has been partially detached and used in surgical grafting to fill an adjacent defect or cover the cut end of a bone after amputation.
Linguistics A sound articulated by a single, quick touch of the tongue against the teeth or alveolar ridge, as (t) in water. Also called tap¹.
Informal A commotion or disturbance: a flap in Congress over the defense budget.

verb flapped flapped, flap·ping, flaps

verb, transitive

To wave (the arms, for example) up and down.
To cause to move or sway with a fluttering or waving motion.
To hit with something broad and flat; slap.
Informal To fling down; toss.

verb, intransitive

To move or sway while fixed at one edge or corner; flutter: banners flapping in the breeze.
To wave arms or wings up and down.
To fly by beating the air with the wings.
Informal To become upset or flustered.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English flappe, slap

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