释义 |
flap I. \ˈflap\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English flappe, probably of imitative origin; in senses 5, 6, and 7, probably from flap (II) 1. obsolete : stroke, blow; often : a stroke with something broad (as the open hand) : slap 2. obsolete : something broad and flat (as a flyswatter) used for striking 3. : something that is broad, limber, or flat and usually thin and that hangs loose or projects freely: as a. : a hinged leaf or fold (as of a table, door, or shutter) b. : half of a hinge having two broad leaves through which screw holes are pierced especially when one of them is to be screwed to the face of a door or shutter instead of to the edge — see strap hinge c. (1) : a piece on a garment that hangs free < double flaps set off the pockets > or can be adjusted to hang free < a storm cap with a wool-lined flap that can be pulled down to protect the ears > (2) : a tongue of a shoe (3) : a brim of a hat d. (1) : a projecting edge of a flexible book cover (as in a divinity circuit binding) (2) : a part of a book jacket that folds under the book's cover e. : a piece of tissue partly severed from its place of origin for use in surgical grafting and repair of bodily defects f. : an extended part that forms the closure of a bag, envelope, carton, or fiberboard case g. : a cloth or rubber strip inserted between the tube and the beads of an automobile tire to protect the tube from contact with the rim h. : a movable auxiliary airfoil usually attached to the trailing edge of an airplane wing to increase wing resistance 4. : a flat piece, slice, or layer < a flap of bread > 5. a. : the motion of something broad and limber (as a sail or wing) < the steady flap of northbound wings > also : a single stroke of such motion < the sail gave a flap as the breeze died > b. : the sound of such motion < startled by the sudden flap of a loose shutter > c. : a brush followed by a step on the same foot in tap dancing 6. : an energetic single bouncing of the tip of the tongue against the hard palate (as in a frequent American articulation of the tt in Betty or a frequent southern British articulation of the rr in berry) 7. a. : a state of excitement or panicky confusion : hullabaloo < the president's statement had everybody in a flap > b. : crisis < when there was a flap abroad — Thomas Braden > II. verb (flapped ; flapped ; flapping ; flaps) Etymology: Middle English flappen, from flappe, n. transitive verb 1. a. obsolete : strike, clap b. : to beat with or as if with a flap : strike with a surface (as of a bird's wing or of a flyswatter) < the loose scarf flapped his face > 2. a. : to toss sharply : fling — usually used with down < flapped the paper down angrily > b. : to turn (as a pancake) by tossing 3. : to move or cause to move in flaps < a bird flapping its wings > < the uncertain breezes flap the sails > 4. : to arouse the attention of by or as if by striking with a flap < sent an emissary to flap the local agents > 5. : to lower the flap of (as a hat or cap) 6. : to break (the surface of the slag) in the fire-refining of copper by striking with a rabble, exposing the molten metal to the air, and hastening oxidation 7. : to utter with a flap articulation < a flapped r > intransitive verb 1. : to give a quick blow (as with the hand) : clap 2. : to sway loosely usually with a noise of striking and especially when moved by wind < the tent flapped in the rising breeze > 3. a. : to beat or pulsate wings or something suggesting wings < the children flapped with their arms as they scurried down the hill > b. : to progress by flapping < early ideas of airplanes that would flap like birds > c. of a rotor blade : to move up and down while rotating at the center 4. a. : to flutter ineffectively (as by beating of wings) < the bird flapping helplessly against the screen > b. : to act or move erratically or to little effect < such childish flapping to and fro will get you nowhere > 5. : to talk foolishly or to no purpose — usually used with about < the thing's settled, there's no use flapping about it now > < all he does is flap about his own importance > |