From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishflutterflut‧ter1 /ˈflʌtə $ -ər/ ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]HBAHBI if a bird or insect flutters, or if it flutters its wings, it flies by moving its wings lightly up and down A small bird fluttered past the window.2 [intransitive]MOVE/CHANGE POSITION to make small gentle movements in the air Dead leaves fluttered slowly to the ground. The flag fluttered in the light breeze.3 [intransitive]EXCITED if your heart or your stomach flutters, you feel very excited or nervous4 [intransitive] if your eyelids flutter, they move slightly when you are asleep Her eyelids fluttered but did not open.5 → flutter your eyelashes (at somebody)→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
flutter• The paper didn't flutter about from side to side; it just went straight down.• Butterflies fluttered from flower to flower.• Flags from a hundred nations fluttered in the breeze.• When he tried to speak his eye fluttered shut and then sprang open again, that bright red persimmon clouding over.• The wind was blowing over the top of Jinny's head, fluttering the loose, short hairs round her forehead.• As he was studying it, something slid out from the pages and fluttered to the floor.• At home as I emptied my backpack, a Slip of paper fluttered to the floor.• Miriam had to shield the candle-flame with her hand as it fluttered wildly.flutterflutter2 noun [singular] 1 NERVOUSa feeling of being nervous, confused, or excitedin a flutter She was all in a flutter. His sudden resignation caused quite a flutter.2 → a flutter of something3 HBMOVE/CHANGE POSITIONa light gentle movementflutter of a flutter of wings4 → have a flutterExamples from the Corpus
flutter• I felt a flutter of fear at the base of my throat.• A moment later we heard a splash and a squeal, more splashing, a flutter of duck, whoops of delight.• During this the right wing broke up - probably due to aileron flutter - and Bayles was killed.• The great naming curses flutter into the bland night.• When next Fabia heard footsteps coming in her direction her heart again gave a nervous flutter.in a flutter• A figure in fluttering black emerged, then vanished.From Longman Business Dictionaryflutterflut‧ter /ˈflʌtə-ər/ noun informal have a flutter (on something) to risk a small amount of money on the result of a horse race, football game etcSYNBET, GAMBLELots of people like to have a flutter on the lottery.Origin flutter1 Old English floterian 