Flapping: meaning, definitions and examples

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flapping

 

[ ˈflæpɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

bird behavior

Flapping is the act of moving wings up and down quickly in order to fly or stay airborne.

Synonyms

beating, fluttering.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
flapping

This word is often used to describe the sound or movement of something, especially wings or fabric, moving back and forth rapidly.

  • The birds were flapping their wings excitedly.
  • The flag was flapping in the strong wind.
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.

  • The butterfly was fluttering its wings gently.
  • Leaves were fluttering down from the trees.
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.

  • His heart was beating fast with excitement.
  • The drummer was beating a fast rhythm.

Examples of usage

  • The bird's flapping was a beautiful sight to behold.
  • The flapping of the wings created a mesmerizing sound.
Context #2 | Noun

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

strike, tap.

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Word Description / Examples
flapping

Used to describe the motion of something moving back and forth rapidly, often used for wings or flags.

  • The bird's wings were flapping as it took off
tap

Indicates a light touch or hit, often used for gentle or intentional touches.

  • He gave her a tap on the shoulder to get her attention
strike

Describes hitting someone or something with force. Often used in contexts related to combat or intentional forceful action.

  • She aimed to strike the ball with her bat

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.
Context #3 | Noun

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?

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Word Description / Examples
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.

  • The bird was flapping its wings frantically as it tried to take off.
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.

  • Researchers studied the wing movement of different species of birds.
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.

  • The engineers analyzed the wing oscillation to improve the drone's flight stability.

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.