flap

noun \ ˈflap \

|Updated on: 19 Jul 2018

Examples: flap in a Sentence

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: such 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 (such 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 that generates an uproar

7 : a consonant (such 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

See flap defined for English-language learners

See flap defined for kids

Examples of flap in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of flap from the Web

One prisoner was hanging bloody pieces of toilet paper on the door flap, Haney wrote.

— kate brumback, The Seattle Times, "Report blasts Georgia solitary confinement as ‘draconian’," 10 July 2018
The gift sparked a huge uproar in the Montgomery County Community, though Sichel gave no indication that her impending departure was connected to the flap over the gift.

— kathy boccella, Philly.com, "Abington superintendent to retire after Stephen Schwarzman donation debacle," 9 July 2018
Then, with a few splashes and powerful flaps of their wings, the others followed suit, joining the squadrons of pelicans that have for generations been icons of the coast, soaring over the Golden Gate.

— erin stone, SFChronicle.com, "Once injured, starving pelicans are rehabilitated, freed on San Francisco Bay shoreline," 29 June 2018
Waters said about the Sarah Sanders flap at a rally in Los Angeles last weekend.

— li zhou, Vox, "Paul Ryan has no problem going after Maxine Waters — even as he evades Steve King’s misdeeds," 26 June 2018
Wardle remembers losing a beloved winter hat with flowers on the ear flaps during a bad date at the Rainbo.

— leor galil, Chicago Reader, "Music / RIP Remembering soundman and musician Patrick Kenneally, who nurtured scenes in Chicago and Portland," 18 June 2018
New lightweight materials, electric propulsion using small fans, and stability-enhancing computer controls mean that traditional engines, and flight control surfaces like flaps, are no longer a necessity.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "Boeing's $2 Million Challenge to Make the Sky Fun Again—With 'Flying Motorbikes'," 14 June 2018
There’s generally a scarcity of second-hand components for the A380, making pieces like landing gear, flaps and engines more valuable, Gehling said.

— tom lavell, Bloomberg.com, "Two Unwanted A380s Are Moving Closer to the Scrapheap," 5 June 2018
Bill Maher should have fun with Giuliani and the flap over Michelle Wolf’s performance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

— hal boedeker, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Donald Glover hosts 'SNL'; Prince night on 'American Idol'," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flap.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flap

Middle English flappe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

flap Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Near Antonyms

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

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, tempest, to-do, tumult;

flap

verb

Definition of flap

flapped; flapping

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

See flap defined for English-language learners

Examples of flap in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of flap from the Web

Alex Ovechkin went airborne, Evgeny Kuznetsov flapped his arms like a bird of prey and the Washington Capitals are flying high, just two wins away from winning the Stanley Cup.

— stephen whyno, chicagotribune.com, "Capitals flying high up 2-1 on Vegas in Stanley Cup Final," 2 June 2018
All of this, moreover, had to be done while wet laundry flapped on drying racks next door and amid the cacophonous outbursts of the Chinese workers hanging it.

— Longreads, "When the Movies Went West," 15 May 2018
Squirrel corn and the slightly pointier Dutchman's breeches both look like white pantaloons flapping on a line.

— grant segall, cleveland.com, "Where to see spring wildflowers in Greater Cleveland, while they last (photos)," 11 May 2018
In another part of his exhibition—at the French Maison Des Jonglages (House of Juggling) in La Courneuve France—the hair dryers lie on their sides, flapping a vinyl record against the floor.

— rachel z. arndt, Popular Mechanics, "Watch a Bunch of Hair Dryers Create Gravity-Defying Works of Art," 21 June 2015
From an engineering standpoint, the greatest difficulty for Fuller's team was flapping wings.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Watch a Laser-Powered Robotic Fly Take Its First Flight," 16 May 2018
Fans waved flags and flapped pieces of shiny gold plastic.

— bill plaschke, latimes.com, "LAFC christens new Banc of California Stadium with a thrilling win, and Angelenos feel right at home," 30 Apr. 2018
Paradise birds hang a quarter-mile above us, never seeming to flap their wings.

— anthony doerr, Town & Country, "True Confessions of a Travel Control Freak," 25 May 2018
The owl suffered an injured left eye but was flapping its wings when found, Arizona Game and Fish officials said on Twitter.

— nathan j. fish, azcentral, "Teen trapped in car with owl says bird 'was really chill'," 16 May 2018

First Known Use of flap

14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

flap Synonyms

Synonyms

beat, flail, flop, flutter, whip;

flick, flicker, flit;

fan, oscillate, sway, swing;

undulate, wave;

palpitate, pulse, throb;

FLAP Defined for English Language Learners

flap

noun

Definition of flap for English Language Learners

: a flat piece of material that is attached to something on one side and that can be easily moved
: the movement or sound of something that is moving up and down or back and forth
: a state or situation in which many people are excited or upset

flap

verb

Definition of flap for English Language Learners

: to move (something) up and down or back and forth

FLAP Defined for Kids

flap

noun \ ˈflap \

Definition of flap for Students

1 : something broad and flat or flexible that hangs loose

Tape the box flaps closed.

2 : the motion or sound made by something broad and flexible (as a sail or wing) moving back and forth

3 : an upset or worried state of mind

Don't get in a flap over nothing.

flap

verb

Definition of flap for Students

flapped; flapping

: to move with a beating or fluttering motion

Birds flapped their wings.

Medical Dictionary

flap

noun \ ˈflap \

medical Definition of flap

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

Learn More about flap

See words that rhyme with flap Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flap Spanish Central: Translation of flap Nglish: Translation of flap for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of flap for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flap

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flap

Definition of flap

Examples of flap in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flap from the Web

Origin and Etymology of flap

flap Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

flap

Definition of flap

Examples of flap in a Sentence

Recent Examples of flap from the Web

First Known Use of flap

flap Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to FLAP

Related Phrases

FLAP Defined for English Language Learners

flap

Definition of flap for English Language Learners

flap

Definition of flap for English Language Learners

FLAP Defined for Kids

flap

Definition of flap for Students

flap

Definition of flap for Students

Medical Dictionary

flap

medical Definition of flap

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