1
: a stroke with something broad : slap
2
obsolete
: something broad and flat used for striking
3
: something that is broad, limber, or flat and usually thin and that hangs loose or projects freely: such as
a
: a piece on a garment that hangs free
b
: a part of a book jacket that folds under the book's cover
c
: a piece of tissue partly severed from its place of origin for use in surgical grafting
d
: an extended part forming the closure (as of an envelope or carton)
4
: the motion of something broad and limber (such as a sail or wing)
5
: a movable auxiliary airfoil usually attached to an airplane wing's trailing edge to increase lift or drag see airplane illustration
7
: a consonant (such as the sound \d\ in ladder and \t\ in latter) characterized by a single rapid contact of the tongue or lower lip against another point in the mouth
called also tap
flapped; flapping
1
: to beat with or as if with a flap
2
: to toss sharply : fling
3
: to move or cause to move in flaps
1
: to sway loosely usually with a noise of striking and especially when moved by wind
2
a
: to beat or pulsate wings or something suggesting wings
b
: to progress by flapping
c
: to flutter ineffectively
3
: to talk foolishly and persistently
Synonyms
Examples of flap in a Sentence
Noun
She opened the tent flap and crawled outside.
the inside flap of a book's cover
a loose flap of skin
Verb
The breeze flapped the sails.
The flag flapped in the breeze.
The bird's wings were flapping.
Recent Examples on the Web
Craig Merrett, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
It is located in the hollow just in front of the flap of the ear.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2024
First, most anti-theft backpacks appear to have no visible access points, as zippers and pouches are hidden by flaps.
—Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
At the shopping mall, Ethan opened the flap of the claw machine.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024
Some days, simoom winds blast open tent flaps, covering residents with dust.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
All activities on the board, including counting flaps and an abacus, are made of pinewood and metal, which combine beautifully into an aesthetically pleasing design.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024
The parka also sports a soft chin guard, an interior drawcord to lock in heat, a zipper storm flap, and a slew of pockets, many of which are lined for added warmth.
—Christina Liao, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024
There are neat tags on the side of the seat for the baby’s tactile exploration, and a convenient flap over the harness buckle keeps it out of their reach.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024
Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Outside, tables were overturned, tablecloths flapping.
—Aryn Kyle, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Eurasian serotine bats can be recognized by their long smoky-brown fur (with pale yellow-brown underbelly), large triangular ears, and distinctive flight pattern: bouts of flapping interspersed with brief glides.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Nov. 2023
Aside from the ultra-intricate helicopter with flapping propellers and a retractable ramp and feet, the kit comes with eight recognizable faces in Minifigure form, including Paul Atreides, Chani Kynes, and Duncan Idaho.
—Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024
In it, he is seen greeting Robbie as Barbie and her friends with his fin flapping out of the water.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Performers flap their elbows and seesaw their hips.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
On several balconies, laundry hung out to dry was still flapping in the winter breeze.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024
The game is all about strategy, as the height of your character relative to the others determines who survives a collision, leading to much frantic button-mashing to flap your ostrich's magnificent wings.
—Aaron Morales, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
So the pilot pulls the flaps in and can set the engine to produce less power.
—Craig Merrett, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
It is located in the hollow just in front of the flap of the ear.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2024
First, most anti-theft backpacks appear to have no visible access points, as zippers and pouches are hidden by flaps.
—Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2024
At the shopping mall, Ethan opened the flap of the claw machine.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024
Some days, simoom winds blast open tent flaps, covering residents with dust.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
All activities on the board, including counting flaps and an abacus, are made of pinewood and metal, which combine beautifully into an aesthetically pleasing design.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024
The parka also sports a soft chin guard, an interior drawcord to lock in heat, a zipper storm flap, and a slew of pockets, many of which are lined for added warmth.
—Christina Liao, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2024
There are neat tags on the side of the seat for the baby’s tactile exploration, and a convenient flap over the harness buckle keeps it out of their reach.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Soaring birds–such as condors, eagles, hawks, albatrosses, gulls, storks and gannets–generally rely on large wingspans and slotted feathers at the wingtip to keep them in flight with little flapping.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Outside, tables were overturned, tablecloths flapping.
—Aryn Kyle, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Eurasian serotine bats can be recognized by their long smoky-brown fur (with pale yellow-brown underbelly), large triangular ears, and distinctive flight pattern: bouts of flapping interspersed with brief glides.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 27 Nov. 2023
Aside from the ultra-intricate helicopter with flapping propellers and a retractable ramp and feet, the kit comes with eight recognizable faces in Minifigure form, including Paul Atreides, Chani Kynes, and Duncan Idaho.
—Melissa Epifano, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2024
In it, he is seen greeting Robbie as Barbie and her friends with his fin flapping out of the water.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 2024
Performers flap their elbows and seesaw their hips.
—Celia Wren, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
On several balconies, laundry hung out to dry was still flapping in the winter breeze.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024
The game is all about strategy, as the height of your character relative to the others determines who survives a collision, leading to much frantic button-mashing to flap your ostrich's magnificent wings.
—Aaron Morales, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English flappe
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of flap was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing flap
Dictionary Entries Near flap
Cite this Entry
“Flap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flap. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
flap
1 of 2 noun2
: a broad, limber, or flat piece that hangs loose (as on a pocket or envelope)
3
: the motion or sound of a flap
4
: a movable part of an airplane wing that is attached to the trailing edge of the wing and that is used to increase lift or drag
flap
2 of 2 verb
flapped; flapping
2
: to move or cause to move with a beating motion
flapping its wings
Medical Definition
flap
noun
: a piece of tissue partly severed from its place of origin for use in surgical grafting
More from Merriam-Webster on flap
Nglish: Translation of flap for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of flap for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flap
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