- 1[transitive, intransitive] flap (something) if a bird flaps its wings, or if its wings flap, they move quickly up and down synonym beat The bird flapped its wings and flew away. The gulls flew off, wings flapping. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbgently, wildly See full entry
- 2[intransitive, transitive] to move or to make something move up and down or from side to side, often making a noise (+ adv./prep.) The sails flapped in the breeze. Two large birds flapped (= flew) slowly across the water. flap something She walked up and down, flapping her arms to keep warm. A gust of wind flapped the tents. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbgently, wildly See full entry be worried/excited
- 3[intransitive] (British English, informal) to behave in an anxious or excited way There's no need to flap—I've got everything under control. See related entries: Excitement phonetics
- 4 [transitive] flap something = tap Word OriginMiddle English: probably imitative.Extra examples The sails flapped wildly in the stiff breeze. Her wet skirt flapped around her knees. His coat flapped open. The man was flapping a large white sheet.Idioms
flap
verbBrE BrE//flæp//; NAmE NAmE//flæp//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they flap BrE BrE//flæp//; NAmE NAmE//flæp//
he / she / it flaps BrE BrE//flæps//; NAmE NAmE//flæps//
past simple flapped BrE BrE//flæpt//; NAmE NAmE//flæpt//
past participle flapped BrE BrE//flæpt//; NAmE NAmE//flæpt//
-ing form flapping BrE BrE//ˈflæpɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈflæpɪŋ//
Excitement(British English, informal) a person is trying to listen to somebody else’s conversation
Check pronunciation: flap
