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¹flutter

verb flut·ter \ˈflə-tər\

of a bird or insect : to move or flap the wings quickly without flying

: to fly lightly with quick beats of the wings

: to move with quick, light movements

Full Definition of FLUTTER

intransitive verb

: to flap the wings rapidly

a : to move with quick wavering or flapping motions

b : to vibrate in irregular spasms

: to move about or behave in an agitated aimless manner

transitive verb

: to cause to flutter

— flut·ter·er \-tər-ər\ noun

— flut·tery \-tər-ē\ adjective

See flutter defined for English-language learners

See flutter defined for kids

Origin of FLUTTER

Middle English floteren to float, flutter, from Old English floterian, frequentative of flotian to float; akin to Old English flēotan to float — more at fleet

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FLUTTER

Synonyms: dance, dart, flick, flicker, flirt, flitter, flit, zip

Rhymes with FLUTTER

butter, clutter, cutter, gutter, mutter, nutter, putter, scutter, shutter, splutter, sputter, strutter, stutter, utter

²flutter

noun

: a quick, light movement

: a state of excitement or confusion

: a small bet

Full Definition of FLUTTER

: an act of fluttering

a : a state of nervous confusion or excitement

b : flurry, commotion

c : abnormal spasmodic fluttering of a body part <treatment of atrial flutter>

a : a distortion in reproduced sound similar to but of a higher pitch than wow

b : fluctuation in the brightness of a television image

: an unwanted oscillation (as of an aileron or a bridge) set up by natural forces

chiefly British : a small speculative venture or gamble

See flutter defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of FLUTTER

1641

Related to FLUTTER

Synonyms: burst, flare, flare-up, flash, flicker, flurry, outbreak, outburst, spurt

Antonyms: sure thing

Other Audio Recording Terms

baffle, dub, fidelity, transcription, treble

Rhymes with FLUTTER

butter, clutter, gutter, mutter, shutter, splutter, sputter, strutter, stutter, utter

FLUTTERING Defined for Kids

¹flutter

verb flut·ter \ˈflə-tər\

flut·teredflut·ter·ing

Definition of FLUTTER for Kids

: to move the wings rapidly without flying or in making short flights <Butterflies fluttered over the garden.>

: to move with a quick flapping motion <Flags fluttered in the wind.>

: to move about excitedly <Salesclerks fluttered about the store.>

²flutter

noun

Definition of FLUTTER for Kids

: an act of moving or flapping quickly <a flutter of wings>

: a state of excitement <The contestants were all in a flutter.>

Medical Dictionary

flutter

noun flut·ter \ˈflət-ər\

Medical Definition of FLUTTER

: an abnormal rapid spasmodic and usually rhythmic motion or contraction of a body part <diaphragmatic flutter> <affected with ventricular flutter>

—flutter intransitive verb