noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

flap

Flap (noun) means a flat piece attached along one edge that can hang loose or swing, such as on an envelope, pocket, or tent. Example: “She sealed the flap of the envelope.”

noun

A flat piece attached along one edge that can hang loose or swing, such as on an envelope, pocket, or tent.

"She sealed the flap of the envelope."

A hinged panel on an aircraft wing used to control lift.

"The pilot lowered the flaps before landing."

(informal) A sudden fuss, panic, or scandal.

"There was a big flap in the office over the leaked memo."

verb

To move up and down or back and forth, especially a wing or something loose.

"The bird flapped its wings and took off."

"The tent flap flapped loudly in the wind."

How to use flap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA loose hinged piece that swings or hangs (on an envelope, plane wing, pocket), or to move something that way; informally, also a sudden panic or fuss.

Common pairings

flap its wings in a flap pocket flap

Word forms

flapped past tense, flaps plural, flaps singular

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She sealed the _____ of the envelope.

Etymology

From Middle English flappe, "a slap or blow," related to the idea of something loose striking against something else.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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beat roll wave fuss flaps tizzy flutter flapping fluttering dither pother undulate

Related words

hit police list round fall attack beat trouble

Rhymes for flap

lap clap slap

See all rhymes for flap →

Frequently asked questions

What does “flap” mean?

The word “flap” means a flat piece attached along one edge that can hang loose or swing, such as on an envelope, pocket, or tent. In plain terms, a loose hinged piece that swings or hangs (on an envelope, plane wing, pocket), or to move something that way; informally, also a sudden panic or fuss.

How do you pronounce “flap”?

“Flap” is pronounced flap (/flæp/ in IPA).

How do you use “flap” in a sentence?

Here is “flap” used in a sentence: “She sealed the flap of the envelope.”

What part of speech is “flap”?

Depending on how it is used, “flap” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “flap” come from?

The word “flap” comes from Middle English. From Middle English flappe, "a slap or blow," related to the idea of something loose striking against something else.

Is “flap” a common word?

“Flap” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “flap” have?

“Flap” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat piece attached along one edge that can hang loose or swing, such as on an envelope, pocket, or tent.

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