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flap

flap

23 2.0
A quick up and down movement, often made by wings
  • noun
  • /flæp/
translation icon : aleteo
  • "Open it up and look," Connie grumbled as she pushed the flaps open.
  • a flap of wings

Is that like, so if we talk about those the the flap of a butterfly wing, like what's the first flap?

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Examples

  • Leg flap, leg flap, leg flap!

  • Alice heard screams and strange cries, the flapping of wings, and the pounding of hooves.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Yeah, a flap of the wings on one side of the planet can cause waves on the other.

  • Would whoever is making that flapping sound quiet down?

  • As Berlin arrives, doors on the opposite wall flap together like somebody just hurried out.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Something is stowed inside a homemade flap in the lining of his coat.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • And you can make pocket flaps in all kinds of shapes and sizes and styles.

  • Myrmeen heard Varina scream again, the sound coupled with the flapping of wings.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • A little Italian flag taped to the handlebars of Louis's bike flaps in the breeze he stirs up.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The flap of the bird's wings was barely audible as it soared through the sky.

Synonyms

flutter
vsflap
11 2.7

A quick, light repeated movement, like wings or leaves

is more general, applying to any quick repeated up and down motion
flapping
vsflap
2 1.0

A repeated up-and-down movement of wings, flags, or sails

is the quick repeated up and down motion described more generally
flit
vsflap
1 7.4

A sudden quick movement like a bird or insect passing

refers specifically to rapid up and down motion rather than darting movement
fluttering
vsflap
1 3.0

A quick, light movement up and down by wings or leaves

is a broader quick up and down movement not limited to light objects
flap flap
vsflap
6.8

The repeated sound wings make when they move

focuses on the movement itself rather than its sound

Antonyms

363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

Idioms

2 8.7

Talk a lot about things that do not matter

Compounds

1 2.9

A piece of cloth like a door that opens and closes at a tent entrance

1 3.5

A piece of cloth that covers a pocket opening to keep things safe and make the pocket look neater

6.8

The repeated sound wings make when they move

landing flap
  • Specialized
5.5

A part under a plane wing that moves down to give more lift and slow the plane when landing

How Audible

to clap
2 7.4
flap
23 2.0
to flutter
35 3.5

Surface Forms

flap singular
flaps plural

Etymology

Flap as a movement comes from the action word that imitates a quick hitting sound, like a bird's wings making a sharp 'flap'. So a flap is that quick up-and-down movement you see when something beats the air.