flutter

¹flut·ter

verb \ˈflə-tər\

Definition of FLUTTER

intransitive verb

1

: to flap the wings rapidly

2

a : to move with quick wavering or flapping motions b : to vibrate in irregular spasms

3

: to move about or behave in an agitated aimless manner

transitive verb

: to cause to flutter

— flut·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun

— flut·tery \-tər-ē\ adjective

Examples of FLUTTER

1. The bird was fluttering its wings.
2. The bird's wings were fluttering.
3. We watched the butterflies fluttering in the garden.
4. Leaves fluttered to the ground.
5. The breeze made the curtains flutter.
6. The breeze fluttered the curtains.
7. She fluttered her eyelashes at him.
8. She nervously fluttered around the office.

Origin of FLUTTER

Middle English floteren to float, flutter, from Old English floterian, frequentative of flotian to float; akin to Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FLUTTER

Synonyms: dance, dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flitter, flit, zip

Related Words: dash, fly, sail, shoot, speed, sprint, zing, zoom; scamper, scud, scurry, scuttle, skip, skitter; meander, ramble, roam, wander

Near Antonyms: float, hang, hover

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with FLUTTER

butter, clutter, cutter, gutter, mutter, nutter, putter, scutter, shutter, splutter, sputter, strutter, stutter, utter