■ verb
1》 fly unsteadily by flapping the wings quickly and lightly.
2》 move or fall with a light irregular motion.
3》 (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.
■ noun
1》 an act or instance of ~ing.
↘a state or sensation of tremulous excitement.
2》 Brit. informal a small bet.
3》 Electronics rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, especially of recorded sound. Compare with wow 2 .
4》 Aeronautics undesired oscillation in a part of an aircraft under stress.
Derivatives
~er noun
~ing adjective
~ingly adverb
~y adjective
Origin
OE floterian , flotorian , a frequentative form related to fleet 5 .