flut´ter|a|ble

flut|ter «FLUHT uhr», verb, noun.

–v.i.

1. to wave back and forth quickly and lightly; quiver: »

A small flag fluttered in the breeze.

2. to move or flap the wings without flying or with short flights: »

The chickens fluttered excitedly when they saw the dog.

3. to come or go with a trembling or wavy motion: »

The young birds fluttered to the ground.

SYNONYM(S): hover, flicker, flit.

4. Figurative. to move (about) restlessly; flit: »

She fluttered about making preparations for the party.

5. Figurative. to move quickly and unevenly; tremble: »

Her hands fluttered. With this my lady swept out of the room, fluttering with her own audacity (Thackeray).

6. to beat feebly and irregularly: »

The patient's pulse fluttered.

–v.t.

1. to cause to flutter.

2. Figurative. to throw into confusion; excite. SYNONYM(S): confuse, agitate, ruffle.

–n.

1. the act or condition of fluttering: »

the flutter of curtains in a breeze.

2. Figurative. onfused or excited condition; agitation: »

The appearance of the queen caused a great flutter in the crowd. He immediately…fell into a great flutter (Dickens).

3. British. a small bet made for the excitement.

4. = flutter kick. (Cf. ↑flutter kick)

5. unstable vibration of some part of an aircraft: »

wing flutter.

6. an abnormal fluttering of some part of the body: »

a heart flutter.

7. a rapid rise and fall in pitch of a phonograph, film, or tape recording caused by slight variations in the speed at which the recording is played. Also, flitter.

╂[Middle English floteren, Old English flotorian. See related etym. at flatter¹ (Cf. ↑flatter), fleet¹. (Cf. ↑fleet)]

–flut´ter|a|ble, adjective.

–flut´ter|er, noun.

–flut´ter|ing|ly, adverb.

–flut´ter|less, adjective.