- a broad, flat part or limb adapted for swimming, as in seals or whales
- a large, flat, paddlelike rubber device worn on each foot by a swimmer or skin diver to increase the force of the kick
Origin of flipper
from flipflipper
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"flipper." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper>.
APA Style
flipper. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper
flipper
noun
- One that flips: a flipper of hamburgers
- A wide flat limb, as of a seal, whale, or other aquatic mammal, adapted for swimming.
- See fin1.
- A flat lever in a pinball machine, used to hit the ball so it stays in play.
flipper
South African fur seal
Arctocephalus pusillus
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"flipper." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper>.
APA Style
flipper. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper
A wide, flat limb adapted for swimming, found on aquatic animals such as whales, seals, and sea turtles. Flippers evolved from legs.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"flipper." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper>.
APA Style
flipper. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper
Noun
(plural flippers)
- in marine mammals such as whales, a wide flat limb, adapted for swimming
- a flat, wide, paddle-like rubber covering for the foot, used in swimming
- a flat lever in a pinball machine, used to keep the ball in play
- (cricket) A type of ball bowled by a leg spin bowler, which spins backwards and skids off the pitch with a low bounce
- (informal, US) television remote control, clicker
- (dated, slang) The hand.
- (dentistry) A kind of false tooth, usually temporary.
- A kitchen spatula
Verb
(third-person singular simple present flippers, present participle flippering, simple past and past participle flippered)
- to lift one or both flipper out of the water and slap the surface of the water
Origin
flip + -er
Proper noun
- a common name for animals which have flippers, such as dolphins and seals.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"flipper." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper>.
APA Style
flipper. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper
flipper - Computer Definition
See DualDisc.
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"flipper." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper>.
APA Style
flipper. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper
flipper - Medical Definition
n.
- A wide flat limb, as of a seal, whale, or other aquatic mammal, adapted for swimming.
See fin
The American Heritage Dictionary of Medicine © 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"flipper." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 06 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper>.
APA Style
flipper. (n.d.). Retrieved December 06th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/flipper
Sentence Examples
- As mentioned previously, the historical figure credited with inventing the swimming flipper is none other than Benjamin Franklin.
- Snorkelers: The snorkeler prefers a lightweight, flexible swimming flipper that won't weigh her down.
- Does that burger flipper have big dreams or has he resigned himself to doing the same job forever?
- Throughout her high school years, Alba had roles in The Secret Life of Alex Mack, the new Flipper TV series, Beverly Hills 90210, commercials for Nintendo and J.C.Penny's, the new Love Boat, and several indie films, among others.
- Complete with a strum bar, whammy bar, and five different colored buttons on the neck.The strum bar is a little plastic flipper that clicks up or down, simulating the strumming motion you would make when plucking strings.
» more...