flap

flap1 [ flæp ] noun *

1. ) count a thin flat piece of something that is fixed to something else along one edge:

a flap of leather/skin/plastic

He held back the flap of the tent.

2. ) singular INFORMAL a situation in which people are confused, excited, or angry: FUSS:

Why has there been such a political flap over his appointment?

in a flap: They were in a real flap over the lost passport.

3. ) count a single fast movement of something in the air, for example a bird's wings

a ) the sound of fast movement through air

4. ) count a part of the wing of an airplane that moves up and down to help control the airplane

flap

flap 2 [ flæp ] verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive if a bird's wings flap, or the bird flaps them, they move quickly up and down:

The swan hissed and flapped its huge wings.

a ) intransitive or transitive if your arms, hands, etc. flap, or you flap them, they move quickly up and down

b ) intransitive to move noisily up and down or from side to side, especially in the wind:

I tried to keep up, my coat flapping in the wind.

2. ) intransitive BRITISH INFORMAL to be very worried, nervous, or excited about something