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flutter

Syllabification: (flut·ter)
Pronunciation: /ˈflətər/
Translate flutter | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of flutter

verb

[no object]
  • (of a bird or other winged creature) fly unsteadily or hover by flapping the wings quickly and lightly:a couple of butterflies fluttered around the garden
  • [with object] (of a bird or other winged creature) flap (its wings) quickly and lightly:the lark fluttered its wings, hovering
  • [with adverbial] move or fall with a light irregular or trembling motion:the remaining petals fluttered to the ground
  • [with adverbial of direction] (of a person) move restlessly or uncertainly:the hostess fluttered forward to greet her guests
  • (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.

noun

  • 1an act of fluttering:there was a flutter of wings at the window
  • a state or sensation of tremulous excitement:Sandra felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach her insides were in a flutter
  • Aeronautics undesired oscillation in a part of an aircraft under stress.
  • Medicine disturbance of the rhythm of the heart that is less severe than fibrillation:atrial flutter I was diagnosed as having a heart flutter
  • Electronics rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, especially of recorded sound. Compare with wow2.
  • 2British informal a small bet:a flutter on the horses

Phrases

flutter one's eyelashes

open and close one’s eyes rapidly in a coyly flirtatious manner.

Derivatives

flutterer

noun

flutteringly

adverb

fluttery

adjective

Origin:

Old English floterian, flotorian, a frequentative form related to fleet4

flutter in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of flutter in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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