Word: flutter Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, flotorian (“to float about, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), equivalent to float + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian flodderje (“to flutter, beat”), Dutch flodderen (“to flutter, wave”), Low German fluttern, fluddern (“to flutter”), German flittern (“to sparkle, glitter”). More at float. Pronunciation: /ˈflʌtə/, /ˈflʌtɚ/, [-ɾɚ] 1. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The eagle soared across the horizon with just a few slow flutters of its wings. The flutter of insects and bats is more rapid. Some birds also use non-flight flutters as communication and in thermoregulation. Example: Fish move using a flutter of their body to propel themselves through the water. Some also derive propulsion or maneuverability from their fins' flutter. 2. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable Example: leaf flutter; feather flutter Example: The flutter of the flock buffeted me. 3. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: broadly, countable, uncountable Example: I eventually found the source of the flutter, which came from clothes on a clothesline swaying with the wind. Example: I find the flutter of a campfire to be soothing like a lullaby. 4. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: broadly, countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: A flutter of gasps spread over the crowd. Example: In all the flutter of peace talk, a public desire to be done with war, and a readiness to compromise through mediation, was revealed. 5. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He couldn't help but feel more attracted to her with each flutter of her eyes/lashes/eyelids. Example: Her eyes did a flutter. 6. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter of the geisha's fan was elegant. Example: How apt is the flutter of the fan to express the different affections of the belle : there is the angry flutter, the modest flutter, the timorous flutter, the confused flutter etc. 7. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter of your legs will propel you through the water, when you execute a proper flutter kick. Example: 'The body is propelled, headforemost, by a fluttering" of the legs. This flutter bears some resemblance to the crawl-stroke kick-inverted. The knees are together and toes pointed in line with the legs. From the knees, the legs are, alternately, dropped a few inches and then flashed upwards again. The feet thus continually pass and repass, and the "wedges" of water driven out from between the legs force the body along. 8. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Winged helicopter seeds fall with rapid flutters to the ground. Example: The Christmas tree fell in a flutter of ornaments and pine needles. 9. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The irregular back-and-forth flutter of this fishing lure imitates the movement of an injured or sick fish. Example: Palatal flutter is a cause of sleep apnea and snoring. 10. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: It's important to note any flutter in the iris. Example: Flutter, which is present in most iris-supported lenses, is minimized or virtually eliminated. 11. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: kite flutter; parachute flutter; sail flutter Example: Even a weak flutter can damage your sail. 12. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Witness the flutter of its neck, which helps to lower the bird's body temperature. Example: The gular flutter is characterized by a rapid flutter of the gular region caused by flexure and relaxation of the hyoid apparatus. 13. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I've never been able to achieve a proper flutter on my flute. Example: This articulation is based on the rapid flutter of the tip of the tongue, with the tongue shaped as in the syllable tr or dr. 14. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I love the flutter of the singer's voice. I could never develop the flutter needed to do that. Her flutter is excellent. Example: That flutter in your voice is a vocal tremor, caused by the involuntary contractions of muscles in the larynx, throat or other adjacent parts of the body. 15. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: Despite an occasional flutter, the water current still flows in the same direction as always. Example: Smoking rates have been going down for a long time, despite a few regional and temporary flutters. 16. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: in a flutter Example: She'd been in a flutter since receiving word that her in-laws were on the way. 17. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: From my apartment, I heard a flutter in the streets, presumably in protest of the war. Example: When I heard a flutter in the basement, I knew it was my daughter sneaking out to play after her bedtime. 18. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: He found his eyelid flutters annoying enough to see a doctor about them. Example: A flutter ran through her, but she steeled her nerves and continued. 19. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: She took her own pulse to verify the flutter she felt was real. Example: A flutter left him light-headed until he steadied himself by grabbing the railing. 20. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Was that a flutter from my soon-to-be baby or a flutter of indigestion? I couldn't tell! Example: So you've been feeling flutters in your belly for three days? Any other symptoms? 21. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: He was mostly over his phobia of dogs, but sometimes the sight of a dog still gave him a flutter of terror. Example: Some of her father's ways still triggered flutters of that old burning resentment in her. She spoke of him with a flutter of her bitterness that others could sense. 22. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: That flutter in the patient's eyes means there's a neurological problem. Example: We will first comment on the atypical flutter of our patient and then on the concept of opsoclonus/flutter of our patient and then on the concept of flutter upon convergence. 23. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: You need a cardiologist to treat this flutter in your heart. Your cardiologist will have ways of getting you out of flutter. Example: The recording speed is also of importance in detecting flutters of high frequency. 24. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I see a distinct flutter in your echocardiogram. Example: In addition to investigating the phenomena responsible for initiating flutter, expanded studies of heart valve leaflet flutter could explore other relevant system parameters, such as flow speed and valve size, that may induce or reduce flutter. 25. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter has been treated, and symptoms of synchronous diaphragmatic flutter are no longer present. Example: the flutter stopped temporarily 26. A physical oscillation in a mechanical device; a state of oscillation; the action of oscillation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I felt each flutter of the lawnmower as it struggled to start. Example: The needle on this gauge was in a flutter, which makes it hard to read the result. 27. A physical oscillation in a mechanical device; a state of oscillation; the action of oscillation. Labels: uncountable Example: wind turbine flutter, propellor flutter, blade flutter, fan flutter, fin flutter, whirl flutter, wing flutter Example: The flutter characteristics of the new design suggest that it will hold up well in real-world conditions. 28. A physical oscillation in a mechanical device; a state of oscillation; the action of oscillation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: You have a compressor surge, I could hear the flutter in your engine. I can show you how to fix the flutter. Example: If you hear flutter on acceleration, it is dangerous surge. 29. A physical oscillation in a mechanical device; a state of oscillation; the action of oscillation. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutters are a sign that something is seriously wrong with your car. Example: A flutter of the engine, and then it stopped. 30. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The bird's song was full of trills and flutters. Example: I can hear a flutter in this movie's soundtrack. 31. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I heard a flutter when she spoke. Example: He said he could do it, but the flutter in his voice told me he lacked confidence. 32. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The explosion of flutters behind me let me know the paparazzi were here. Example: I heard the flutter of a camera, saw a man a few yards behind me taking photos with a long-range lens. 33. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: A lot of people find the flutter of film to be an annoying distraction. Example: On the exhibition end, most of the sound heads in use at present slide the film past a stationary sound gate with the result that irregularities in the friction of the film against the gate produce a flutter. As a result of film shrinkage, only one pair of teeth in the pulling sprocket made contact with the film at one time. At the moment the pulling pair of teeth are disengaged from the film a slight slippage of the film is required to bring the next pair of teeth in contact with it. This results in a speed variation known as sprocket-hole modulation. Where a hold-back sprocket is not provided, variations in the tension of the takeup mechanism are transmitted directly to the pulling sprocket with resulting variations in speed. 34. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter is part of the appeal for cassette enthusiasts. Example: To specify the effect of flutter with one figure can be extremely misleading, for it says nothing about the distribution of flutter in the spectrum of interest. 35. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I maintain all of the equipment in tiptop condition, so there's no wow or flutter. Example: He diagnosed my system's flutter. 36. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter in this room is from the hard, parallel walls. Example: To hear a flutter echo, all one needs is a pair of parallel surfaces (and they need not be very large), stand between them, and clap hands. Nowhere else in the vast garden were there any flutters. 37. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The two recordings aren't synced up well enough to get rid of that flutter. 38. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable 39. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I finally solved the flutter from that speaker. 40. A flicker or fluctuation in light; a type of visual distortion. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter of the lamplight cast a romantic glow on the room. Example: The flutter effect strains my eyes. 41. A flicker or fluctuation in light; a type of visual distortion. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: I hate watching that TV, because of its flutter. 42. A flicker or fluctuation in light; a type of visual distortion. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter on those old movies makes it hard to see the details. Example: Anything that causes the film to pass the light beam jerkily produces flutter. 43. A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: "Not that I am averse to having a business flutter, mind you." "This will be more than a flutter, I assure you." Example: Maybe they thought I was one of those golden boys or hot shots that blew everything on a risky flutter on the stock exchange 44. A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.). Labels: countable, dated, uncountable, usually Example: We had a flutter on the project, but we didn't get very far on it. Example: You had a flutter? Yes. And yet you suggest that the Government did not take things seriously enough whilst you were conducting this flutter? 45. A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.). Labels: UK, countable, uncountable Example: We should have luck with a flutter over the north field. Example: A flutter over the well-known water ditch, a desultory charge of a hundred and fifty horsemen and women up the hill beyond 46. A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.). Labels: UK, countable, uncountable Example: I fancied a flutter, and I won eighty pounds on it. Example: "Oh, by the way, I heard of a rather good thing today, New Kleinfonteins; it's a gold mine in Rhodesia. If you'd like to have a flutter you might make a bit." 47. A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.). Labels: countable, uncountable Example: We usually just have a flutter after dinner, but once the game is through, we all go to our rooms. Example: "We have a loo in College every night-of course that is not every night, but most nights-not a big loo at all, you know, but just a small party of our own. I would almost rather we played whist myself, but the other fellows don't like whist, it's too awfully scientific; and at loo, you know, you can have a bit of a flutter. It helps to pass the time after Hall." 48. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The castle was adorned with ribbons, flags and other flutters that waved in the stiff wind. Example: Then he looked from her to some gayer figures moving along the road with flutters of bright streamers and flounces 49. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: In such an atmosphere the harbor was flecked with brilliantly decked craft of every description, all in a flutter of flags and carrying a host of passengers in gala dress. Example: Sally at last appeared, all in a flutter of ribbons and scarfs, whose bright, high colors assorted well with the ultramarine blue of her dress, and the vivid pomegranate hue of her cheeks. 50. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: A flutter of snow covered the landscape in a thin layer of white. Example: A light flutter of snow fell , and I glanced into the silvery sky, letting the flakes fall on my face. 51. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flag was hanging limp all day, until a flutter made it stand up and ripple for a few seconds. Example: little flutters of breeze shook the white hats of the daisies 52. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The flutter of that gown is characteristic of the designer's style. Its flutter means it looks best in a light breeze. 53. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, dated, uncountable Example: On this gown, flutters of red on the shoulders and arms provide visual interest. Example: A Worth taffeta model in the approved bunched, draped, and long-in-places style has flutters of lace set in the skirt. 54. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: collective, countable, uncountable Example: The flutter that passed us by was made up of monarch butterflies. Example: Instantly a great flutter of butterflies of all sizes and colors lifted in spangled clouds about them. 55. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery. Labels: countable, historical, uncountable Example: The flutter in that gauge-cock makes it hard to see what the correct water level is. Example: If such was the case and a hole drilled through the brace in the boiler, it might become stopped up opposite the gauge cock and the steam would leak down between the boiler head and the brace on the inside, which would perhaps cause a flutter of steam and water to show at the gauge cock when open. 56. A small amount or a small sign of something. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: The nuns prayed on the matter daily, sending flutters of devotion to the heavens. Example: Everywhere he saw flutters of war and knew the rumors of peace were mere idle talk. 57. A small amount or a small sign of something. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Amid the flutters of sunshine drifting through the dense canopy, I spotted my target. Example: Here on the painting we see flutters of blue, suggesting the sky beyond. 58. A small amount or a small sign of something. Labels: countable, figuratively, uncountable Example: I asked around and heard nothing concrete, just flutters of accusations of bad behavior. Example: Despite the lack of written records, we have dredged up a few flutters of information about that era of history.