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
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
Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Just seconds into the catchy song, Frankel threw the flaps back, revealing a mostly gold, multicolor, strappy push-up bikini with elements of black and pink.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 30 May 2025
Livia Hengel, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Your baby will get a kick out of watching their ears flap in time to the rhythm, encouraging them to join in the fun.
—Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flap
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Noun
Initially, the distance between the flap and mainplane couldn’t vary more than 2mm when 75kg of vertical load was applied to the rear wing.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Just seconds into the catchy song, Frankel threw the flaps back, revealing a mostly gold, multicolor, strappy push-up bikini with elements of black and pink.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
Two panoramic terraces look out onto Positano and the sea, framed by leafy plants, colorful throw pillows and flapping curtains that add a touch of mystic to the whole ambiance.
—Livia Hengel, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Your baby will get a kick out of watching their ears flap in time to the rhythm, encouraging them to join in the fun.
—Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flap
Cite this Entry
“Flap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flap. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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