flap

noun \ ˈflap \

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

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

Just pull the flap to call, video chat, or send messages.

— ellen airhart, WIRED, "Bigger, Brighter, Simpler: A Tablet for the Mature User," 27 Mar. 2018
The tracking system—which can handle eye blinks, eyebrow movements, lip flap, mouth shape, and head angle—just isn't very good.

— ron amadeo, Ars Technica, "Galaxy S9+ review—Faster specs, better biometrics in a familiar package," 15 Mar. 2018
Flanked by 11 wrinkly flaps on each side of its body, the ancient predator sported a long tail spine and a rounded head.

— National Geographic, "Half-Billion-Year-Old Fossil Brains Found in Ancient Predator," 9 Mar. 2018
Access to the back is aided by powered flaps in the glass roof that motor upward in conjunction with the door opening.

— mike duff, Car and Driver, "Revived and Electrified: Lagonda Vision Concept," 6 Mar. 2018
Brinson, who was a home run shy of the cycle, said the ball caught him on the side of the helmet on the flap.

— matthew defranks, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Lewis Brinson finishes homer shy of cycle, leaves game after hit by relay throw," 22 Mar. 2018
Yet while each of those articles has a function, like a chastity belt that doesn't lock, this flat bit of fabric doesn't do more than flap.

— irene hsiao, Chicago Reader, "Lie Through My Skin attempts to confront the shame of white privilege," 21 Mar. 2018
But the Clinton flap speaks to a broader disconnect among Democrats, who simply do not represent that many rural voters.

— david dayen, The New Republic, "The Democrats’ Rural Voter Problem (and How to Fix It)," 20 Mar. 2018
Some on the inside with the Spurs will counter that before this Leonard flap, there actually were a few flare-ups of tension behind the scenes in the intervening years.

— marc stein, New York Times, "San Antonio Spurs Face an Unfamiliar Opponent Down the Stretch: Discontent," 16 Mar. 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

The festival, convened every two years, was held in crisp white pagoda tents beneath Swedish, Dutch, and Icelandic flags that flapped over the shores of the Drontermeer Lake west of town.

— Outside Online, "The Curious Case of the Fly-Fishing Feather Thief," 19 Apr. 2018
The spit-curl, the S, the cape flapping in the wind, and yes, even the red trunks are back in time for this anniversary issue.

— david betancourt, chicagotribune.com, "Action Comics No. 1000: Meet two legends behind the books celebrating Superman's 80th year," 18 Apr. 2018
Each person thrust his or her own sheet of paper over the others, layers flapping like paper airplanes coming to a halt at a wall.

— rachel z. arndt, Longreads, "Rules for Departure," 11 Apr. 2018
He and the other boys just flap off and spend the summers goofing off together.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Seven things you never knew about the sex lives of mallard ducks," 10 Apr. 2018
Sirigu almost gifted the visitors an opening goal in the tenth minute, after flapping a cross directly into the path of Ivan Perišić, who scuffed his attempted to chip into the grateful hands of the stopper from 20 yards out.

— SI.com, "Torino 1-0 Inter: Il Toro Spring Surprise to Dent Nerazzurri's Champions League Qualification Plans," 8 Apr. 2018
Using new, powerful, state-of-the-art X-ray technology, scientists determined the wing bones of Archaeopteryx matched modern birds that flap their wings to fly short distances or in bursts.

— doyle rice, USA TODAY, "Dinosaur finally gets its wings: Study proves Archaeopteryx could fly," 13 Mar. 2018
Those in the know about the dark claims aren’t talking, while those who don’t have a clue are flapping their lips.

— holly otterbein, Philly.com, "Mummers scandal? Fancy Brigade winner enlists lawyer as misconduct claims fly," 30 Jan. 2018
The room was silent but for the hundreds of clicks, like insect wings flapping on a summer night.

— jonathan allen, NBC News, "Zuckerberg has entered the room. He is in a suit.," 10 Apr. 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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