Definition

1. Noun:

   • A light, quick, and irregular motion: "flutter" can refer to a rapid, flapping, or vibrating movement, often of something light like wings or a flag.
   • A state of nervous excitement or confusion: "flutter" also describes a feeling of agitation, excitement, or nervousness.
   • A rapid, irregular heartbeat: In medicine, "flutter" refers to a specific type of abnormal heart rhythm, particularly atrial flutter.

2. Verb:

   • To move with quick, light, irregular motions: The basic meaning is to flap or vibrate wings or similar objects rapidly and lightly.
   • To beat or pulsate rapidly and irregularly: Used to describe a heart beating quickly from emotion or a medical condition.
   • To move or fall in a light, wavering way: To move through the air or descend with a series of quick, light motions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The flutter of the bird's wings was barely audible.
  • She felt a flutter of excitement before her performance.
  • The patient was diagnosed with atrial flutter.

• Verb:

  • The flags flutter in the breeze.
  • His heart began to flutter with anxiety.
  • The leaves fluttered down from the tree.

Advanced Usage

• "to cause a flutter": to create a stir or cause mild excitement.

  • The royal visit caused a flutter in the small town.

• "in a flutter": in a state of nervous excitement or agitation.

  • She was all in a flutter before the important interview.

Variants and Related Words

• Fluttering (adj/n): Moving with a light, quick, irregular motion. The present participle or gerund form of the verb.

  • The fluttering curtain indicated an open window.

• Fluttery (adj): Resembling or characterized by a flutter; light and quick.

  • She had a fluttery feeling in her stomach.

Synonyms

• Flap: To move up and down or back and forth, often with a beating motion.
• Quiver: To shake with a slight, rapid, tremulous movement.
• Palpitate: To beat rapidly and strongly, often used for the heart.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

(Note: "flutter" is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its combinations are typically noun phrases or descriptive verb uses.)

• Flutter about/around: To move around quickly and lightly in an agitated or excited way.
  • The birds fluttered about the feeder.

Related Idioms

• "To flutter one's eyelashes": To bat one's eyelashes, often in a coquettish or flirtatious manner.

  • She fluttered her eyelashes, trying to get his attention.

• "To flutter the dovecotes": To cause alarm or disturbance among a settled or complacent group (a literary idiom).

  • The new policy fluttered the dovecotes of the old establishment.

Noun

1. the motion made by flapping up and down
2. a disorderly outburst or tumult
   • they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused
3. abnormally rapid beating of the auricles of the heart (especially in a regular rhythm); can result in heart block
4. the act of moving back and forth

Verb

1. wink briefly
   • bat one's eyelids
2. beat rapidly
   • His heart palpitated
3. flap the wings rapidly or fly with flapping movements
   • The seagulls fluttered overhead
4. move back and forth very rapidly
   • the candle flickered
5. move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
   • The hummingbird flitted among the branches