v.
- fly unsteadily by flapping the wings quickly and lightly.
- move or fall with a light irregular motion.
- (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.
n.
- an act or instance of fluttering.
▸a state or sensation of tremulous excitement.
- Brit. informal a small bet.
- Electronics rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, especially of recorded sound. Compare with wow2.
- Aeronautics undesired oscillation in a part of an aircraft under stress.
Derivative
- flutterer n.
- fluttering adj.
- flutteringly adv.
- fluttery adj.
Etymology
OE floterian, flotorian, a frequentative form rel. to fleet5.