flutter

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.
2. (intransitive) Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.
3. (intransitive) To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.
4. (transitive) To cause something to flap.
5. (transitive) To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.
6. (intransitive) To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.
7. (intransitive, obsolete) To be frivolous.
8. (slang) To subject to a lie detector test.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion.
2. (countable, uncountable) A state of agitation.
3. (countable, uncountable) An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart.
4. (uncountable) An extremely dangerous divergent oscillation caused by a positive feedback loop between the elastic deformation of an object and the aerodynamic forces acting on it, potentially resulting in rapid structural failure.
5. (British, countable, uncountable) A small bet or risky investment.
6. (countable, uncountable) A hasty game of cards or similar.
7. (countable, uncountable) The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency.

Synonyms

flap

wave

👋

flicker

fly

✈️

flit

sway

waver

quiver

shake

🫨

fan

tremble

flitter

stir

heave

palpitate

fluttering

oscillate

hover

commotion

flap wings

agitation

shiver

rock

🪨

ruffle

play

bat

🦇

blow

vibrate

jitter

disturbance

swing

shock

⚡

disruption

shaking

🫨

swarm

bounce

dart

🎯

flurry

beat

ripple

rustle

flirt

😘

blink

quake

billow

kerfuffle

fleet

flash

flapping

fidget

Translations

flattern

voleter

voltiger

ondear

👋

wehen

battre des ailes

svolazzare

aletear

fladderen

palpiter

schwanken

esvoaçar

se balancer

aan de scharrel zijn

onduler

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈflʌtə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: floteren

Inherited from Old English: floterian

Cognate with Western Frisian: flodderje

Cognate with Dutch: flodderen

Cognate with Low German: fluttern

Cognate with German: flittern

In summary

From Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, flotorian (“to float about, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), equivalent to float + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian flodderje (“to flutter, beat”), Dutch flodderen (“to flutter, wave”), Low German fluttern, fluddern (“to flutter”), German flittern (“to sparkle, glitter”). More at float.