flap

¹flap

noun \ˈflap\

Definition of FLAP

1

: a stroke with something broad : slap

2

obsolete : something broad and flat used for striking

3

: something that is broad, limber, or flat and usually thin and that hangs loose or projects freely: as

a : a piece on a garment that hangs free

b : a part of a book jacket that folds under the book's cover

c : a piece of tissue partly severed from its place of origin for use in surgical grafting

d : an extended part forming the closure (as of an envelope or carton)

4

: the motion of something broad and limber (as a sail or wing)

5

: a movable auxiliary airfoil usually attached to an airplane wing's trailing edge to increase lift or drag — see airplane illustration

6

a : a state of excitement or agitation : tizzy, uproar

b : something (as an incident or remark) that generates an uproar

7

: a consonant (as the sound \d\ in ladder and \t\ in latter) characterized by a single rapid contact of the tongue or lower lip against another point in the mouth —called also tap

Examples of FLAP

1. She opened the tent flap and crawled outside.
2. the inside flap of a book's cover
3. a loose flap of skin

Origin of FLAP

Middle English flappe

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FLAP

Synonyms

agitation, deliriousness, delirium, distraction, fever, feverishness, frenzy, furor, furore, fury, hysteria, rage, rampage, uproar

Related Words

chaos, confusion, disorder, havoc, pandemonium, turmoil; bedlam, bother, brouhaha, bustle, clamor, clatter, commotion, disturbance, fuss, hoo-ha (also hoo-hah), hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly-burly, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tempest, tumult

Near Antonyms

calm, calmness, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietude, repose, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, still, stillness, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

Rhymes with FLAP

cap, chap, clap, crap, frap, gap, gape, hap, knap, lap, Lapp, map, nap, nape, nappe, pap, rap, sap, scrap, slap, snap, strap, tap, trap, wrap, yap, Yap, zap

²flap

verb

flappedflap·ping

Definition of FLAP

transitive verb

1

: to beat with or as if with a flap

2

: to toss sharply : fling

3

: to move or cause to move in flaps

intransitive verb

1

: to sway loosely usually with a noise of striking and especially when moved by wind

2

a : to beat or pulsate wings or something suggesting wings

b : to progress by flapping

c : to flutter ineffectively

3

: to talk foolishly and persistently

Examples of FLAP

1. The breeze flapped the sails.
2. The flag flapped in the breeze.
3. The bird's wings were flapping.

First Known Use of FLAP

14th century

Related to FLAP

Synonyms

beat, flail, flop, flutter, whip

Related Words

bang, batter, buffet, knock, pound, smack, spank, thump; flick, flicker, flit; fan, oscillate, sway, swing; undulate, wave; palpitate, pulse, throb

flap

noun \ˈflap\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of FLAP

: a piece of tissue partly severed from its place of origin for use in surgical grafting