flap

noun

\ˈflap

Definition of flap

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

6a : 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

flap

verb

flapped; flapping

Definition of flap (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2a : to beat or pulsate wings or something suggesting wings

b : to progress by flapping

c : to flutter ineffectively

3 : to talk foolishly and persistently

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about flap

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Examples of flap in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Chef Chan Yan-tak and his four work buddies push through plastic door flaps and squeeze into a fluorescent-lit, Cantonese diner in Kowloon, Hong Kong. — Casey Quackenbush / Hong Kong, Time, "'We're Not Educated.' The Untold Story of Lung King Heen, the World's First Michelin Three-Star Chinese Restaurant," 12 July 2018 With its soothing gray color, fold-over flap and relaxed shape, this bag from Coach is made for these sartorially mixed-up days of business-casual dressing. — Max Berlinger, latimes.com, "LeBron James carries a $41,000 bag. Here's your chance to get into the man-bag game with these picks," 12 July 2018 Kate's iteration, however, featured a deep V neckline, empire waist, pocket flaps, and a few pleats at the center of the skirt. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Pippa Middleton Channeled the Outfit Kate Wore To Her Wedding," 9 July 2018 The statement of work will require whoever wins the contract to develop their own 3D models of the wing sets, flaps, and other parts from the Air Force's specifications. — Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, "More A-10s to get new wings, as Air Force officially launches ATTACK," 31 May 2018 There are garments with flaps on the midsection for accessing feeding tubes. — Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, "Designing “Adaptive Clothing” For Those With Special Needs," 8 May 2018 The personnel flap is a rare example of Pence and Trump publicly butting heads. — Toluse Olorunnipa, Bloomberg.com, "Pence Hire Withdraws After Report Trump Objected to Appointment," 16 Apr. 2018 The man, who was white, wore a winter hat with ear flaps and a deer design across it, white plastic gloves, sunglasses, a gray shirt pulled up to his nose, a black jacket and khaki pants. — Jane Ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Tri City Bank in Greenfield in West Allis robbed by man with knife," 4 Apr. 2018 All that was missing was the Fudd hat with the ear flaps. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Retired Justice Stevens puts Democrats on a pin with call to repeal Second Amendment," 29 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The match started off a little shaky for the home side after Hakan Çalhanoğlu silenced the Emirates Stadium with a long range effort that left David Ospina flapping at thin air. — SI.com, "Arsene Wenger Names the Team He Wants to Avoid As Arsenal Reach Europa League Quarter Finals," 16 Mar. 2018 The wings flap once more, this time with increasing power, and, the eagle lifts into the air. — Martin Weil, Washington Post, "A once-weakened bald eagle is released four days after the Fourth," 10 July 2018 Getty There's hair, and then there's Hair: the ripple-y, glassy kind that comes with its own green-screen fluffers just like the ones that flapped Superman's cape around for him. — Chelsea Peng, Marie Claire, "The Complete Guide to Growing Out Your Hair," 16 Apr. 2015 The bird tries to flap away but the cat grabs it and pulls it down. — Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, "Why This Zoo Lion Killed a Lost Water Bird," 28 June 2018 At a display industry conference in May, the buzz was about prototypes of screens that were flexible enough to roll and flap in the wind. — Geoffrey Fowler, Philly.com, "Whoa! Meet the future phones that fold up, have 9 cameras, and charge over thin air," 1 July 2018 This explanation jibes with the British tradition of flying a ‘half-staff’ flag exactly one flag’s width lower than its normal position to underscore that Death’s flag is flapping above it. — Michael E. Miller, Washington Post, "‘Disgraceful’: Trump once criticized Obama for not swiftly lowering the American flag. Now it’s his turn.," 3 July 2018 Older babies and toddlers might avoid eye contact, fail to answer to their names, or do repetitive movements such as rocking back and forth or flapping their arms. — Maria Polletta, azcentral, "Could a Phoenix center's research change how autism is diagnosed?," 2 July 2018 At a display industry conference in May, the buzz was about prototypes of screens that were flexible enough to roll and flap in the wind. — Geoffrey Fowler, courant.com, "Future Phones: They Fold Like Napkins, Have 9 Cameras, Charge Over Thin Air," 6 July 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.