flutter

Plural: flutters

Noun

• the act of moving back and forth
• abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart block
• a disorderly outburst or tumult
• the motion made by flapping up and down
• The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion.
• A state of agitation.
• An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart.
• 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.
• A small bet or risky investment.
• A hasty game of cards or similar.
• The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency.

Verb

Verb Forms: fluttered, fluttering, flutters

• To wave or move rapidly and irregularly.
• move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
• move back and forth very rapidly
• flap the wings rapidly or fly with flapping movements
  • "The seagulls fluttered overhead"
• beat rapidly
• wink briefly
• To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.
• Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.
• To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.
• To cause something to flap.
• To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.
• To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.
• To be frivolous.
• To subject to a lie detector test.

Examples

• A bird flutters its wings.
• flags fluttering in the wind
• His heart would FLUTTER with excitement whenever he drew a blank tile in Scrabble.
• the flutter of a fan

Synonyms

bat, commotion, dart, disruption, disturbance, flap, flapping, fleet, flicker, flit, flitter, fluttering, hoo-ha, hoo-hah, hurly burly, kerfuffle, palpitate, quiver, to-do, waver

Anagrams of flutter