flap

noun

/flæp/

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flat piece of paper, etc.

enlarge image

[countable] a flat piece of paper, cloth, metal, etc. that is attached to something along one side and that hangs down or covers an opening

the flap of an envelope
I zipped the tent flaps shut.
The jacket was fastened with a complicated buttoned flap.
He was wearing a deerstalker hat with flaps to cover the ears.

movement

[countable, usually singular] a quick often noisy movement of something up and down or from side to side

With a flap of its wings, the bird was gone.
the flap of the sails

worry/excitement

[singular] (informal, especially British English) a state of worry and excitement

She gets in a flap over the slightest thing.
Harry’s in a bit of a flap over this interview tomorrow.

Extra Examples

Having to cook for everyone at Christmas put his mother in a real flap.
I've never seen her in a flap; she's always so calm.

public anger/criticism

[singular] (North American English) public anger or criticism caused by something a public figure has said or done

the flap about the President’s business affairs
a flap over nuclear issues

Topics Opinion and argumentc2

part of aircraft

enlarge image

[countable] (specialist) a part of the wing of an aircraft, at the back of the wing, that can be moved up or down to control movement in either direction

The wing flaps were not extended at the time of the accident.
The pilot lowered the flaps as the aircraft came into land.

compare slat (2)Topics Transport by airc2

phonetics

(also tap)

[countable] (phonetics) a speech sound that is produced by striking the tongue quickly and lightly against the part of the mouth behind the upper front teeth

Word OriginMiddle English: probably imitative.

flap

verb

/flæp/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they flap	/flæp/ /flæp/
he / she / it flaps	/flæps/ /flæps/
past simple flapped	/flæpt/ /flæpt/
past participle flapped	/flæpt/ /flæpt/
-ing form flapping	/ˈflæpɪŋ/ /ˈflæpɪŋ/

Idioms

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move quickly

[transitive, intransitive] flap (something) if a bird flaps its wings, or if its wings flap, they move quickly up and down synonym beat

The bird flapped its wings and flew away.
The gulls flew off, wings flapping.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

gently
wildly

See full entry

[intransitive, transitive] to move or to make something move up and down or from side to side, often making a noise

(+ adv./prep.) The sails flapped in the breeze.
Two large birds flapped (= flew) slowly across the water.
flap something She walked up and down, flapping her arms to keep warm.
A gust of wind flapped the tents.

Extra Examples

Her wet skirt flapped around her knees.
His coat flapped open.
The man was flapping a large white sheet.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

gently
wildly

See full entry

be worried/excited

[intransitive] (British English, informal) to behave in an anxious or excited way

There's no need to flap—I've got everything under control.

Topics Feelingsc2

phonetics

(also tap)

[transitive] (phonetics) flap something to produce a flap

Word OriginMiddle English: probably imitative.

Idioms

somebody’s ears are flapping

(British English, informal) a person is trying to listen to somebody else’s conversation