flutter

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.

   • flags fluttering in the wind
2. 2

   Of a winged animal

   Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.

   • Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes.
3. 3

   To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural…

   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. ›+ 12 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To cause something to flap.

      • A bird flutters its wings.
   2. 5

      To drive into disorder

      To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.

      • If you haue vvrit your Annales true, 'tis there, / That like an Eagle in a Doue-cote, I / Flatter'd^([sic – meaning Flutter'd]) your Volcians in Corioles.
   3. 6

      To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.

      • It was fluttering with nervousness like a human heart. He was all in a sweat with fear, and—do you know, I don't believe the rascal is a Robot at all any longer.
   4. 7

      To be frivolous.

   5. 8

      To subject to a lie detector test.

      • This was the first time that Nosenko had been subjected to a lie detector — or what the CIA called fluttering. The Soviet Union did not use such devices for interrogation.
      • "Anyway, she cracked and we fluttered her and—" / "Fluttered her?" / "Sorry, gave her a polygraph, a lie detector test. And she passed, more or less, […]
   6. 9

      The act of fluttering

      The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion.

      • the flutter of a fan
      • the chirp and flutter of some single bird
   7. 10

      A state of agitation.

      • flutter of spirits
   8. 11

      An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart.

   9. 12

      An extremely dangerous divergent oscillation caused by a positive feedback loop between…

      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.

   10. 13

       A small bet or risky investment.

       • "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."
       • 30 July, 2009, Eurosport, Gray Matter: How will Schu do? So with his victory odds currently at 14/1 or 3/1 for the podium, he's still most certainly well worth a flutter […]
   11. 14

       A hasty game of cards or similar.

   12. 15

       The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency.

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