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flutter
To flutter is defined as to quickly flap wings, vibrate or tremble.
(verb)An example of to flutter is how the hummingbird's wings move.
The definition of a flutter is a state of confusion or excitement.
(noun)An example of flutter is how a group of friends feel after finding out two unlikely members of that group become romantically involved.
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See flutter in Webster's New World College Dictionary
intransitive verb
- to flap the wings rapidly, as in short flight or without flying at all
- to wave or vibrate rapidly and irregularly: a flag fluttering in the wind
- to move with quick vibrations, flaps, etc.
- to be in a state of tremulous excitement; tremble; quiver
- to move restlessly; bustle
Origin: ME floteren < OE flotorian, freq. of flotian < base of fleotan: see fleet
transitive verb
- to cause to move in quick, irregular motions
- to throw into a state of excitement, alarm, or confusion
noun
- a fluttering movement; vibration
- a state of excitement or confusion
- a condition of the heart in which the contractions are very rapid but generally regular
- a potentially destructive vibration of a part of an aircraft, as the wing, caused by aerodynamic forces
- Brit. a small gamble or speculation
- a rapid fluctuation in the amplitude of a reproduced sound
- a flicker in the image on a television screen
See flutter in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb flut·tered, flut·ter·ing, flut·ters verb, intransitive
- To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner: curtains that fluttered in the breeze.
- a. To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.b. To flap the wings without flying.
- To move or fall in a manner suggestive of tremulous flight: “Her arms rose, fell, and fluttered with the rhythm of the song” (Evelyn Waugh).
- To vibrate or beat rapidly or erratically: My heart fluttered wildly.
- To move quickly in a nervous, restless, or excited fashion; flit.
To cause to flutter: “fluttering her bristly black lashes as swiftly as butterflies' wings” (Margaret Mitchell).
noun- The act of fluttering.
- A condition of nervous excitement or agitation: Everyone was in a flutter over the news that the director was resigning.
- A commotion; a stir.
- Pathology Abnormally rapid pulsation, especially of the atria or ventricles of the heart.
- Rapid fluctuation in the pitch of a sound reproduction resulting from variations in the speed of the recording or reproducing equipment.
- Chiefly British A small bet; a gamble: “If they like a flutter, Rick will get them better odds than the bookies” (John le Carré).
Origin:
Origin: Middle English floteren
Origin: , from Old English floterian; see pleu- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- flutˈter·er noun
- flutˈter·y adjective
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