Flapping: meaning, definitions and examples
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flapping
[ ˈflæpɪŋ ]
bird behavior
Flapping is the act of moving wings up and down quickly in order to fly or stay airborne.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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flapping |
This word is often used to describe the sound or movement of something, especially wings or fabric, moving back and forth rapidly.
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fluttering |
This word is used to describe a light, quick, and delicate movement, often associated with small birds or butterflies, and sometimes fabric or paper in the wind.
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beating |
This word is commonly used to describe a rhythmic striking motion, often associated with drums, hearts, or wings. It conveys a sense of stronger, repetitive action.
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Examples of usage
- The bird's flapping was a beautiful sight to behold.
- The flapping of the wings created a mesmerizing sound.
linguistics
In linguistics, flapping refers to the rapid pronunciation of the 't' and 'd' sounds as a single flap sound, often found in American English.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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flapping |
Used to describe the motion of something moving back and forth rapidly, often used for wings or flags.
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tap |
Indicates a light touch or hit, often used for gentle or intentional touches.
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strike |
Describes hitting someone or something with force. Often used in contexts related to combat or intentional forceful action.
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Examples of usage
- The flapping of the 't' sound in 'city' is a characteristic feature of American English.
- Flapping can sometimes make words sound different in spoken language.
aeronautics
In aeronautics, flapping is the oscillation of an aircraft's wings during flight, often due to turbulence or other aerodynamic factors.
Synonyms
wing movement, wing oscillation.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
Word | Description / Examples |
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flapping |
This term is used to describe the quick back-and-forth movement of wings, especially in birds. It often implies a natural or habitual action without necessarily focusing on the technical aspect.
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wing movement |
This phrase is more technical and formal, describing any kind of movement involving the wings. It's often used in scientific or observational contexts.
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wing oscillation |
An even more technical term, usually used in scientific studies to describe the rhythmic and repetitive motion of wings. It's less common in everyday language.
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Examples of usage
- The pilot had to adjust the controls to stabilize the wing flapping.
- The flapping of the wings can cause discomfort to passengers.
Translations
Translations of the word "flapping" in other languages:
🇵🇹 batendo
🇮🇳 फड़फड़ाना
🇩🇪 flattern
🇮🇩 berkibar
🇺🇦 плескання
🇵🇱 machanie
🇯🇵 はためく
🇫🇷 battement
🇪🇸 aleteo
🇹🇷 çırpma
🇰🇷 퍼덕거림
🇸🇦 رفرفة
🇨🇿 mávání
🇸🇰 mávajúci
🇨🇳 拍打
🇸🇮 mahanje
🇮🇸 blak
🇰🇿 жоғары-төмен қозғалу
🇬🇪 ფარფატი
🇦🇿 çırpınma
🇲🇽 aleteo
Etymology
The word 'flapping' originated from the Middle English word 'flap', which meant to move something up and down. Over time, the term 'flapping' evolved to encompass various meanings in different fields, including bird behavior, linguistics, and aeronautics. The concept of flapping has been studied extensively in the context of flight mechanics and language pronunciation.
See also: flap, flapjack, flapjacks, unflappable.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #17,808, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.
- ...
- 17805 crux
- 17806 underlain
- 17807 ribbed
- 17808 flapping
- 17809 punctuated
- 17810 crook
- 17811 subcontract
- ...