/ flæp; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
FLAT PIECE OF PAPER, etc.
1.
[ C ] a flat piece of paper, cloth, metal, etc. that is attached to sth along one side and that hangs down or covers an opening :
the flap of an envelope
I zipped the tent flaps shut.
—see also cat flap
MOVEMENT
2.
[ C , usually sing. ] a quick often noisy movement of sth up and down or from side to side :
With a flap of its wings, the bird was gone.
the flap of the sails
WORRY / EXCITEMENT
3.
[ sing. ] ( informal , especially BrE ) a state of worry, confusion and excitement :
She gets in a flap over the slightest thing.
PUBLIC DISAGREEMENT
4.
[ sing. ] ( NAmE ) public disagreement, anger or criticism caused by sth a public figure has said or done :
the flap about the President's business affairs
PART OF AIRCRAFT
5.
[ C ] a part of the wing of an aircraft that can be moved up or down to control upward or downward movement
—picture at plane
PHONETICS
6.
[ C ] = tap (6)
■ verb
( -pp- )
MOVE QUICKLY
1.
if a bird flaps its wings, or if its wings flap , they move quickly up and down
SYN beat :
[ vn ]
The bird flapped its wings and flew away.
[ v ]
The gulls flew off, wings flapping.
2.
to move or to make sth move up and down or from side to side, often making a noise :
[ v ]
The sails flapped in the breeze.
Two large birds flapped (= flew) slowly across the water.
[ vn ]
She walked up and down, flapping her arms to keep warm.
A gust of wind flapped the tents.
BE WORRIED / EXCITED
3.
[ v ] ( BrE , informal ) to behave in an anxious or excited way :
There's no need to flap—I've got everything under control.
PHONETICS
4.
[ vn ] = tap (7)
•
IDIOMS
see ear
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : probably imitative.