flap Definition

flap
verb flapped, flapping

tr & intr
1. To wave something up and down, or backwards and forwards.

Example: He was flapping his arms all over the place
Thesaurus: beat, flutter, vibrate, flail, thrash, swish, agitate, wave, thresh.
tr & intr
2. Said of a bird: to move (the wings) up and down; to fly with pronounced wing movements.
intr
3. colloq
To get into or be in a panic or flustered state.
Example: She was always flapping about her work
Form: flap about (often)
Form: flap around

noun

1. A broad piece or part of something attached along one edge and hanging loosely, usually as a cover to an opening.

Example: pocket flaps
Thesaurus: cover, tab, tag, overlap, skirt, lapel, apron, fly.
2. An act, sound or impact of flapping.

Thesaurus: commotion, fuss, agitation, twitter, fluster, dither, tizzy.
3. colloq
A panic; a flustered state.
Example: She was always in a flap about her work
4. A hinged section on an aircraft wing adjusted to control speed.
5. phonetics.
A sound produced by a rapid single light tap of the tongue against the alveolar ridge or uvula as the tip is lowered, eg r in some pronunciations of very.

Derivative: flappable
adj

Easily perturbed, agitated, irritated, flustered, etc. Opposite of the much commoner unflappable.

Derivative: flappy
adj

Etymology: 14c: probably imitative.