Flutter
Pronunciation
- GenAm IPA: /ˈflʌtɚ/
- RP IPA: /ˈflʌtə/
- Rhymes: -ʌtə(ɹ)
Origin
From Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, flotorian ("to float about, flutter"). Cognate with Low German fluttern, fluddern ("to flutter") and Albanian flutur ("butterfly"). More at float.
Full definition of flutter
Verb
- (intransitive) To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.flags fluttering in the wind
- 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 3, Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped ; … .
- (intransitive) Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.
- 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of OzBanks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes.
- (transitive) To cause something to flap.A bird flutters its wings.
- (transitive) To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.
- ShakespeareLike an eagle in a dovecote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli.
Noun
flutter
(plural flutters)- The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion.the flutter of a fan
- Milnesthe chirp and flutter of some single bird
- A state of agitation.
- Henry JamesTheir visitor was an issue - at least to the imagination, and they arrived finally, under provocation, at intensities of flutter in which they felt themselves so compromised by his hoverings that they could only consider with relief the fact of nobody's knowing.
- An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart.
- (British) A small bet or risky investment.
- 1915: W. Somerset Maugham, , Ch. 93"Oh, by the way, I heard of a rather good thing today, New Kleinfonteins; it's a gold mine in Rhodesia. If you'd like to have a flutter you might make a bit."
- So with his victory odds currently at 14/1 or 3/1 for the podium, he's still most certainly well worth a flutter... - Gray Matter: How will Schu do?