ˈflʌtə v. & n. --v. 1 a intr.
flap the wings in
flying or
trying to fly (butterflies fluttered in the sunshine). b tr. flap (the wings). 2 intr.
fall with a quivering
motion (leaves fluttered to the ground). 3 intr. & tr.
move or
cause to move irregularly or tremblingly (the wind fluttered the flag). 4 intr. go
about restlessly;
flit;
hover. 5 tr.
agitate,
confuse. 6 intr. (of a pulse or heartbeat)
beat feebly or irregularly. 7 intr.
tremble with excitement or
agitation. --n. 1 a the
act of fluttering. b an
instance of
this. 2
tremulous excitement; a
sensation (was in a flutter; caused a flutter with
his behaviour). 3
Brit. sl. a
small bet,
esp. on a
horse. 4 an abnormally
rapid but
regular heartbeat. 5 Aeron. an
undesired oscillation in a
part of an
aircraft etc.
under stress. 6 Mus. a rapid
movement of the
tongue (as
when rolling one's rs) in playing a wind
instrument. 7
Electronics a rapid
variation of pitch, esp. of recorded
sound (cf. WOW(2)). 8 a
vibration. øflutter the dovecots cause
alarm among normally imperturbable people. øøflutterer n. fluttery adj. [OE floterian, flotorian,
frequent.
form rel. to FLEET(5)]
