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Flutter

//ˈflʌtə// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion. countable, uncountable

    "the flutter of a fan"

  2. 2
    the act of moving back and forth wordnet
  3. 3
    A state of agitation. countable, uncountable

    "flutter of spirits"

  4. 4
    the motion made by flapping up and down wordnet
  5. 5
    An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart. countable, uncountable
Show 6 more definitions
  1. 6
    a disorderly outburst or tumult wordnet
  2. 7
    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. uncountable

    "The possibility was studied that there might be some unknown phenomenon at work that could cause a reduction in structural stiffness with age. Such a reduction in stiffness could result in a reduced flutter speed and lead to flutter. In 2004, Airbus conducted GVT in support of its MRTT program. The testing was conducted on an aged A310 aircraft (MSN 523) that had accumulated over 28 000 flight hours. This test aircraft had the same design of VTP and rudder as the occurrence aircraft. GVT results found that fin bending and rudder rotation frequencies of the MRTT test aircraft were consistent with those obtained during the original A310-300 certification. No indication was found to suggest that stiffness had reduced with age."

  3. 8
    abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart block wordnet
  4. 9
    A small bet or risky investment. British, countable, uncountable

    ""Oh, by the way, I heard of a rather good thing today, New Kleinfonteins; it's a gold mine in Rhodesia. If you'd like to have a flutter you might make a bit.""

  5. 10
    A hasty game of cards or similar. countable, uncountable
  6. 11
    The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency. countable, uncountable
Verb
  1. 1
    To flap or wave quickly but irregularly. intransitive

    "flags fluttering in the wind"

  2. 2
    wink briefly wordnet
  3. 3
    Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings. intransitive

    "Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes."

  4. 4
    move back and forth very rapidly wordnet
  5. 5
    To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces. intransitive
Show 8 more definitions
  1. 6
    beat rapidly wordnet
  2. 7
    To cause something to flap. transitive

    "A bird flutters its wings."

  3. 8
    move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart wordnet
  4. 9
    To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion. transitive

    "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."

  5. 10
    flap the wings rapidly or fly with flapping movements wordnet
  6. 11
    To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty. intransitive

    "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."

  7. 12
    To be frivolous. intransitive, obsolete
  8. 13
    To subject to a lie detector test. slang

    "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."

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

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