English Explanatory Dictionary

flutter

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.
  2. Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.
  3. To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.
  4. To cause something to flap.
  5. To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.
  6. To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.
  7. To be frivolous.
  8. To subject to a lie detector test.
noun
  1. The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion.
  2. A state of agitation.
  3. An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart.
  4. An extremely dangerous divergent oscillation caused by a positive feedback loop between the elastic deformation of an object and the aerodynamic forces acting on it, potentially resulting in rapid structural failure.
  5. A small bet or risky investment.
  6. A hasty game of cards or similar.
  7. The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency.

Pronunciation

/ˈflʌtə/ /ˈflʌtɚ/ [-ɾɚ] En-us-flutter.ogg

Word forms

flutter flutters fluttering fluttered

Etymology

From Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, flotorian (“to float about, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), equivalent to float + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian flodderje (“to flutter, beat”), Dutch flodderen (“to flutter, wave”), Low German fluttern, fluddern (“to flutter”), German flittern (“to sparkle, glitter”). More at float.

Derived words

aflutter beflutter flutteration flutterer fluttering elm flutterment flutter the dovecot flutter-tongue forflutter unflutterable flutterball flutterboard flutterby flutter in the dovecote flutter kick flutterless fluttersome flutter tongue flutter wheel fluttery synchronous diaphragmatic flutter take a flutter
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
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