flutter

Noun · Verb
US[fluht-er]/ˈflʌtɚ/2 syllables
Synonyms: waverflickerdisturbancedisruptioncommotionhurly burlyto-dohoo-hahoo-hahkerfuffleflapflapping

Open English WordNet

Verb (5)flutters, fluttering

  1. move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart“The hummingbird flitted among the branches”Synonyms: flitfleetdartMore general travel rapidly, speedMore specific butterfly
  2. move back and forth very rapidly“the candle flickered”Synonyms: flickerwaverflitterquiverMore general move back and forth
  3. flap the wings rapidly or fly with flapping movements“The seagulls fluttered overhead”More general beat, flap
  4. beat rapidly“His heart palpitated”Synonyms: palpitateMore general beat, poundSimilar palpitate
  5. wink briefly“bat one's eyelids”Synonyms: batMore general blink, wink

Noun (4)flutters

  1. the act of moving back and forthSynonyms: waverflickerType of motion, movement
  2. abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart blockType of cardiac arrhythmia, arrhythmia
  3. a disorderly outburst or tumult“they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused”Synonyms: disturbancedisruptioncommotionhurly burlyto-dohoo-hahoo-hahkerfuffleType of disorderKinds tumult, convulsion, storm, earthquake, incident, storm center, stir
  4. the motion made by flapping up and downSynonyms: flapflappingflutteringType of wave, undulation

Related words palpitant adjective, palpitation noun, flitter verb, dart verb, palpitate verb

Word of the day · Oct 16About this word
bombasticadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Flut′ter transitive verb

1. To vibrate or move quickly; as, a bird flutters its wings.

2. To drive in disorder; to throw into confusion.

Like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli.— William Shakespeare
Flut′ter noun

1. The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion; vibration; as, the flutter of a fan.

The chirp and flutter of some single bird— Milnes..

2. Hurry; tumult; agitation of the mind; confusion; disorder. Alexander Pope

Flutter wheel, a water wheel placed below a fall or in a chute where rapidly moving water strikes the tips of the floats; — so called from the spattering, and the fluttering noise it makes.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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