flap

Universal Words noun, verb noun flat piece of paper, etc. 1 [C] a flat piece of paper, fabric, metal, etc. that is attached to sth along one side and that hangs down or covers an opening: the flap of an envelope * I zipped the tent flaps shut. * The jacket was fastened with a complicated buttoned flap. * He was wearing a deerstalker hat with flaps to cover the ears. seealsoCATFLAP movement 2 [C,usually sing.] a quick often noisy movement of sth up and down or from side to side: With a flap of its wings, the bird was gone. * the flap of the sails worry / excitement 3 [sing.] (informal, especially BrE) a state of worry, confusion and excitement: She gets in a flap over the slightest thing. * Harry's in a bit of a flap over this interview tomorrow. public disagreement 4 [sing.] (AmE) public disagreement, anger or criticism caused by sth a public figure has said or done: the flap about the President's business affairs part of aircraft 5 [C] a part of the wing of an aircraft that can be raised or lowered to control upward or downward movement: The wing flaps were not extended at the time of the accident. verb (-pp-) move quickly 1 if a bird flaps its wings, or if its wings flap, they move quickly up and down: [VN] The bird flapped its wings and flew away. * [V] The gulls flew off, wings flapping. 2 to move or to make sth move up and down or from side to side, often making a noise: [V] The sails flapped in the breeze. * Two large birds flapped (= flew) slowly across the water. * [VN] She walked up and down, flapping her arms to keep warm. * A gust of wind flapped the tents. be worried / excited 3 [V] (BrE, informal) to behave in an anxious or excited way: There's no need to flap-I've got everything under control. IDIOMS see EAR