flutter
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flutter
- /ˈflʌtə/ UK
- /ˈflʌtɚ/ US
- [-ɾɚ] US
Rhymes with -ʌtə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
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.
verb flutters · fluttering · fluttered
- To flap or wave quickly but irregularly. flags fluttering in the wind
- Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings. “Why, indeed?” said a Butterfly, who was fluttering about after a sunbeam.
- To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.
- To cause something to flap. A bird flutters its wings.
- 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.
- 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.
- To be frivolous.
- 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.
noun flutters
-
The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering.
The eagle soared across the horizon with just a few slow flutters of its wings. The flutter of insects and bats is more rapid. Some birds also use non-flight flutters as communication and in thermoregulation.
Similar: flap, fluttering
-
The collective flutter of many similar objects.
leaf flutter; feather flutter
Similar: flap, fluttering
-
A flapping, crackling or rustling sound, as from a fluttering motion or any comparable sound; any series of quick repetitive sounds.
I eventually found the source of the flutter, which came from clothes on a clothesline swaying with the wind.
Similar: flap, fluttering
-
A sound that spreads in the manner of a wave or ripple.
A flutter of gasps spread over the crowd.
Similar: flap, fluttering
-
The rapid up-and-down movement of the eyelids, and consequently eyelashes, often seen as intentionally flirtatious or alluring and often attributed to the eyes or eyebrows.
He couldn't help but feel more attracted to her with each flutter of her eyes/lashes/eyelids.
Similar: flap, fluttering, bat, batting
-
The movement a hand fan with a back-and-forth action using flicks of the wrist, so as to produce a graceful wave-like effect.
The flutter of the geisha's fan was elegant.
Similar: flap, fluttering
-
The leg motion of various strokes in swimming, especially the flutter kick.
The flutter of your legs will propel you through the water, when you execute a proper flutter kick.
Similar: flap, fluttering, kick
-
The motion or state of falling while fluttering or falling as to produce fluttering.
Winged helicopter seeds fall with rapid flutters to the ground.
Similar: flap, fluttering
-
A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions.
The irregular back-and-forth flutter of this fishing lure imitates the movement of an injured or sick fish.
Similar: flicker
-
The trembling movement of an iris caused by a lack of support from the lens or as a complication of cataract surgery.
It's important to note any flutter in the iris.
Similar: flicker, tremulous iris, iridodonesis
-
The vibration, shaking or flapping of fabric, such as in a kite, parachute or sail; the condition of having such a flutter.
kite flutter; parachute flutter; sail flutter
Similar: flicker
-
The vibration of a bird's throat by rapidly pumping air into it with the mouth open in order to reduce excess body heat; gular flutter.
Witness the flutter of its neck, which helps to lower the bird's body temperature.
Similar: flicker
-
A method of articulation in playing wind instruments by curving the tongue at the sides and exhaling air over it to make it vibrate; flutter-tongue.
I've never been able to achieve a proper flutter on my flute.
Similar: flicker
-
Any of several vocal effects, actions, techniques or conditions, notably tremolo, vibrato and trill, which are deliberately cultivated, as well as the neurological disorder vocal tremor or general strain.
I love the flutter of the singer's voice. I could never develop the flutter needed to do that. Her flutter is excellent.
Similar: flicker
-
An exception to, or fluctuation in, a pattern; a minor and temporary deviation from an expectation; a blip in a trend; a transient shift in allegiance.
Despite an occasional flutter, the water current still flows in the same direction as always.
Similar: flicker
- A state or episode of agitation, of excited anxiety or anxious excitement, or of anticipation; an act of taking a flutter (To flutter for a short period of time) or of being all of a flutter. in a flutter
-
A commotion, ruckus or disturbance; a brief state of energetic activity.
From my apartment, I heard a flutter in the streets, presumably in protest of the war.
Similar: flicker, fuss, flutter in the dovecote · Opposite: calm
- A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. He found his eyelid flutters annoying enough to see a doctor about them.
- The condition or sensation of a rapid and abnormal heart rhythm; the action of a swift heartbeat. She took her own pulse to verify the flutter she felt was real.
- A feeling of internal shifting, which may be caused by the movement of a fetus, muscular spasms associated with digestion (or indigestion) or other phenomena, including idiosyncratic perceptions. Was that a flutter from my soon-to-be baby or a flutter of indigestion? I couldn't tell!
-
A flash of emotion that accompanies an internal sensation, such as a rapid pulsation of the heart or a quiver of nervous disquiet; a small burst of emotion that may be felt or expressed; a fleeting feeling or idea experienced as a feeling.
He was mostly over his phobia of dogs, but sometimes the sight of a dog still gave him a flutter of terror.
Similar: quiver, rumble, spasm, tremor, twinge, frisson, flicker
- The rapid horizontal movement (saccades) of the eyes without pausing between them; ocular flutter. That flutter in the patient's eyes means there's a neurological problem.
-
An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart, caused by the too-rapid beating of the upper chambers; the condition of experiencing such a flutter.
You need a cardiologist to treat this flutter in your heart. Your cardiologist will have ways of getting you out of flutter.
Similar: quiver, rumble, spasm, tremor, atrial flutter, auricular flutter
- The vibration of a heart valve; the condition of experiencing such vibrations. I see a distinct flutter in your echocardiogram.
- A contraction of the diaphragm caused by synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. The flutter has been treated, and symptoms of synchronous diaphragmatic flutter are no longer present.
- A physical oscillation in a mechanical device; a state of oscillation; the action of oscillation. I felt each flutter of the lawnmower as it struggled to start.
- 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. wind turbine flutter, propellor flutter, blade flutter, fan flutter, fin flutter, whirl flutter, wing flutter
-
The sound created when the throttle body in an engine is closed, forcing air through the turbocharger in the wrong direction, which makes the air bounce against the compressor blades, stalling them; the condition of having this occur in an engine.
You have a compressor surge, I could hear the flutter in your engine. I can show you how to fix the flutter.
Similar: chatter, compressor surge, dose, stutututu, turbo flutter
- The shaking of a vehicle or part of a vehicle, especially when caused by the engine surging, stalling or fluctuating in RPM. The flutters are a sign that something is seriously wrong with your car.
-
A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology.
The bird's song was full of trills and flutters.
Similar: flicker
-
A wavering quality in a voice, usually suggesting a specified feeling.
I heard a flutter when she spoke.
Similar: flicker
-
The sound of a camera shutter opening to let in light when taking a picture, or the sound of a camera app that simulates the same thing.
The explosion of flutters behind me let me know the paparazzi were here.
Similar: flicker
-
A sound distortion in film, as in an old movie, caused by variable film speed across the sound head.
A lot of people find the flutter of film to be an annoying distraction.
Similar: flicker
-
The distortion in a cassette recording, especially the distortion caused by variations in the speed of the magnetic tape due to sticking and slipping during playback or recording.
The flutter is part of the appeal for cassette enthusiasts.
Similar: flicker
-
The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency, caused by variations in the speed of the playback from a record player; the condition of having such variation.
I maintain all of the equipment in tiptop condition, so there's no wow or flutter.
Similar: flicker
-
The sound created by a flutter echo.
The flutter in this room is from the hard, parallel walls.
Similar: flicker
-
The pulsating sound created by the phase distortion caused by the simultaneous playback of two frequencies.
The two recordings aren't synced up well enough to get rid of that flutter.
Similar: flicker
-
The sound distortion created by a turntable picking up subsonic interference.
Similar: flicker, cone flutter, woofer flutter, woofer pumping
-
The sound distortion created by vibrations in a speaker; speaker flutter.
I finally solved the flutter from that speaker.
Similar: flicker
-
A flicker or fluctuation in light; a type of visual distortion.
The flutter of the lamplight cast a romantic glow on the room.
Similar: flicker
-
A malfunction in the image on a television, monitor or screen, which may be fluctuations in brightness, bands of distortion or a flickering or blurry quality; the condition of displaying such a malfunction.
I hate watching that TV, because of its flutter.
Similar: flicker
-
A jumping or flickering effect in a film or a video, which may come from damage to the film or to defects in the recording, such as a shaky camera, or which may be a digital effect that simulates such conditions.
The flutter on those old movies makes it hard to see the details.
Similar: flicker
- A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.). "Not that I am averse to having a business flutter, mind you." "This will be more than a flutter, I assure you."
- An attempt or try. We had a flutter on the project, but we didn't get very far on it.
- An act of foxhunting. We should have luck with a flutter over the north field.
- A small bet or risky investment, especially from a rookie gambler; an act of taking a flutter (To place a small bet.). I fancied a flutter, and I won eighty pounds on it.
- A hasty or casual game, e.g. of cards. We usually just have a flutter after dinner, but once the game is through, we all go to our rooms.
- One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. The castle was adorned with ribbons, flags and other flutters that waved in the stiff wind.
- A state of being amid or decorated in items that flutter. In such an atmosphere the harbor was flecked with brilliantly decked craft of every description, all in a flutter of flags and carrying a host of passengers in gala dress.
- A flurry of snow, smoke, dust, etc., or a light rain shower, or another phenomenon experientially similar to a light burst of rain or snow. A flutter of snow covered the landscape in a thin layer of white.
- A breeze or wind that might cause an item to flutter. The flag was hanging limp all day, until a flutter made it stand up and ripple for a few seconds.
- The flow and feel of a garment or outfit, particularly a woman's dress or gown, which moves or appears likely to move in a graceful and airy manner when worn, especially in a light breeze. The flutter of that gown is characteristic of the designer's style. Its flutter means it looks best in a light breeze.
- A feature of clothing (often lace) intended to flutter, such as flaps, straps, trim, etc. On this gown, flutters of red on the shoulders and arms provide visual interest.
-
A group of butterflies or moths.
The flutter that passed us by was made up of monarch butterflies.
Similar: swarm
- A combination of steam and water visible at the top gauge cock of a steam-boiler. The flutter in that gauge-cock makes it hard to see what the correct water level is.
- A small amount or a small sign of something. The nuns prayed on the matter daily, sending flutters of devotion to the heavens.
- A fragment or flash of a color or of light or sound. Amid the flutters of sunshine drifting through the dense canopy, I spotted my target.
- A scrap or fragment of, e.g., rumors, history, sentiment, etc. I asked around and heard nothing concrete, just flutters of accusations of bad behavior.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: flit, flap, flapping, flopping, flicker, flitter, waver, dart, quiver, palpitate, fleet, bat, beat, beating, oscillation, quickie
Translations
Every language
verb to flap or wave quickly
| Español | ondear, flamear, tremolar |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 飛び回る tobimawaru |
| हिन्दी | फहराना phahrānā |
| Português | tremular, drapejar |
| Français | faséyer, voleter, voltiger |
| Deutsch | flattern |
| Italiano | garrire, sventolare, svolazzare, ondeggiare |
| Română | flutura |
| Русский | развева́ться razvevátʹsja, порха́ть porxátʹ |
verb to flap the wings without flying
| Español | aletear |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 撲扇 /扑扇 pūshan |
| Português | esvoaçar |
| Deutsch | wedeln |
| Italiano | sbattere le ali |
| Русский | бить кры́льями bitʹ krýlʹjami, маха́ть кры́льями maxátʹ krýlʹjami |
verb to cause something to flutter
| हिन्दी | फहरना phaharnā |
|---|
noun act of fluttering
| Português | tremulação |
|---|---|
| Français | battement |
| Русский | трепет trepet, порхание porxanije |
noun abnormal rapid pulsation of heart
| Deutsch | Flattern |
|---|
Talk about this word "flutter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/flutter. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. flutter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/flutter "flutter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/flutter.
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BibTeX
@misc{flutter_2026,
title = {flutter},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/flutter},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
