flutter Definition

flutter
verb fluttered, fluttering

tr & intr
1. Said of a bird, etc: to flap (its wings) lightly and rapidly; to fly with a rapid wing movement.

Thesaurus: beat, flap, flit, quiver.
intr
2. Said of a flag, etc: to flap repeatedly in the air.
intr
3. Drift with a twirling motion.

Example: Leaves fluttered to the ground
intr
4. To move about in a restless, aimless way.
intr
5. Said of the heart: to race, from excitement or some medical disorder.
6. old use
To cause agitation in (someone's heart).

noun

1. A quick flapping or vibrating motion.
2. Agitation; excitement.

Example: flutter of excitement
3. colloq
A small bet; a speculation.
4. music.
In wind-instrument playing: rapid movement of the tongue as for a rolled r.
Form: flutter-tonguing
5. In a hi-fi system, etc: a regularly recurring variation in loudness and pitch.

Derivative: flutterer
noun

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon floterian.