fluttering

flut·ter  (fltr)

v. flut·tered, flut·ter·ing, flut·ters

v.intr.

1. To wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner: curtains that fluttered in the breeze.

2.

a. To fly by a quick light flapping of the wings.

b. To flap the wings without flying.

3. To move or fall in a manner suggestive of tremulous flight: "Her arms rose, fell, and fluttered with the rhythm of the song" (Evelyn Waugh).

4. To vibrate or beat rapidly or erratically: My heart fluttered wildly.

5. To move quickly in a nervous, restless, or excited fashion; flit.

v.tr.

To cause to flutter: "fluttering her bristly black lashes as swiftly as butterflies' wings" (Margaret Mitchell).

n.

1. The act of fluttering.

2. A condition of nervous excitement or agitation: Everyone was in a flutter over the news that the director was resigning.

3. A commotion; a stir.

4. Pathology Abnormally rapid pulsation, especially of the atria or ventricles of the heart.

5. Rapid fluctuation in the pitch of a sound reproduction resulting from variations in the speed of the recording or reproducing equipment.

6. Chiefly British A small bet; a gamble: "If they like a flutter, Rick will get them better odds than the bookies" (John le Carré).

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[Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian; see pleu- in Indo-European roots.]

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flutter·er n.

flutter·y adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

fluttering - the motion made by flapping up and down flapping, flap, flutter undulation, wave - (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth