Flutterとは 意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From 中期英語 floteren, from 古期英語 floterian, flotorian (“to float about, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), equivalent to float +‎ -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian flodderje (“to flutter, beat”), Dutch flodderen (“to flutter, wave”), Low German fluttern, fluddern (“to flutter”), German flittern (“to sparkle, glitter”). More at float.

発音

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈflʌtə/
• (General American) IPA: /ˈflʌtɚ/, [-ɾɚ]
• 韻: -ʌtə(ɹ)
• ハイフネーション: flut‧ter

動詞

flutter (third-person singular simple present flutters, present participle fluttering, simple past and past participle fluttered)

1. (intransitive) To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.

   flags fluttering in the wind

   • 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Under the Ashes”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 112:

     Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped ; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth and heaping kindling on the coals, [...]

2. (intransitive) Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.
   • 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, “The Council with the Munchkins”, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC, page 20:

     Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes.

3. (intransitive, aerodynamics) To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.
4. (transitive) To cause something to flap.

   A bird flutters its wings.

5. (transitive) To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.
   • c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene vi], page 30:

     If you haue vvrit your Annales true, 'tis there, / That like an Eagle in a Doue-cote, I / Flatter'd your Volcians in Corioles.

   • 1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “The Honourable Mr. Glacock”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, […], →OCLC, page 104:

     There was a clearness of expression in this, and a downright surrender of himself, which so flattered her and so fluttered her that she was almost reduced to the giving of herself up because she could not reply to such an appeal in language less courteous than that of agreement

6. (intransitive) To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.
   • c. 1921 (date written), Karel Čapek, translated by Paul Selver, R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots): A Fantastic Melodrama […], Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1923, →OCLC, Act II, page 96:

     It was fluttering with nervousness like a human heart. He was all in a sweat with fear, and—do you know, I don't believe the rascal is a Robot at all any longer.

7. (intransitive, obsolete) To be frivolous.
8. (espionage, slang) To subject to a lie detector test.
   • 1978, Edward Jay Epstein, Legend: The Secret World of Lee Harvey Oswald, page 38:

     This was the first time that Nosenko had been subjected to a lie detector — or what the CIA called fluttering. The Soviet Union did not use such devices for interrogation.

   • 2002, Paul Eddy, Flint’s Law, page 90:

     "Anyway, she cracked and we fluttered her and—" / "Fluttered her?" / "Sorry, gave her a polygraph, a lie detector test. And she passed, more or less, […]

派生語

名詞

flutter (countable and uncountable, plural flutters)

1. The act of fluttering, or multiple acts thereof; the back-and-forth motion of fluttering; a state of fluttering.

   The eagle soared across the horizon with just a few slow flutters of its wings. The flutter of insects and bats is more rapid. Some birds also use non-flight flutters as communication and in thermoregulation.

   Fish move using a flutter of their body to propel themselves through the water. Some also derive propulsion or maneuverability from their fins' flutter.

   Some turtles use their claw flutter as a means of communication, particularly in mating.

   Synonyms: flap, fluttering

   • 1911, Charles Livingston Bull, Under the Roof of the Jungle: A Book of Animal Life in the Guiana Wilds‎, L.C. Page & Company, page 4:

     In the jungle the day is the time of bird song, nest building, the hum of insects, the flutter of butterflies. The night is the time of stealthy prowling, of lightning attack, of fear, of death.

   • 2016, Sclater, P. L., Hudson, W. H., Argentine Ornithology, Volume II (of II) - A Descriptive Catalogue of the Birds of the Argentine Republic‎, Read Books Limited:

     Their flight is rapid, with quick flutters of the wings, which seem never to be raised to the level of the body.

   • 1924, Arnold Bennett, Riceyman Steps‎, page 222:

     As she held it gingerly in her hands, one of the squares into which the creases divided it fell off from the main body, and sank with flutters to the floor.

   • 2024, Anna Gibbs, “‘After you!’ A female bird’s flutter conveys a polite message to her mate”, in Science‎:

     A female bird’s flutter conveys a polite message to her mate

   • 1926, Ernest Bade, Science and Invention‎, volume 17, Experimenter Publishing Company, page 462:

     Then, too, the same flutter is observed when it glides over the crest of a wave, but this probably only occurs when the wind lies in a certain direction from the axis of flight.

   • 2026, Xiangxiang Wang, Hualong Xie and Sirui Li, “Effect of pectoral fin locomotion parameters on fish propulsive performance”, in Engineering Research Express‎, volume 8, number 7:

     the pectoral fins are capable of generating high thrust during flutter

   1. (by extension) The collective flutter of many similar objects.

      leaf flutter; feather flutter

      The flutter of the flock buffeted me.

      • 1901, Vida Dutton Scudder, Introduction to the Study of English‎, Globe School Book Company, page 339:

        Was it the flutter of fairy beings around the form of a lovely maiden? Their very flutter was in antithetical beats.

      • 1880, The Eclectic Magazine of Foreign Literature, Science, and Art‎, volume 40, page 833:

        Here, in the summer evenings, the whole air is in motion with the flutter of fans.

      • 1933, Roy J. McMurray, The Journal of Health and Physical Education‎, volume 4, number October 1933, page 48:

        The bushes with leaves that flutter are portrayed with the flutter of fingers from a squatting position and with knee bends and the rising and falling of our arms, we imitate the waves on the water near the wigwams.

   2. (by extension) A flapping, crackling or rustling sound, as from a fluttering motion or any comparable sound; any series of quick repetitive sounds.

      I eventually found the source of the flutter, which came from clothes on a clothesline swaying with the wind.

      I find the flutter of a campfire to be soothing like a lullaby.

      The wind causes a flutter in the barley in the field.

      She produced a loaded keyring and, with a flutter of keys, found the right one to unlock the door.

      • 1921, The Ladies Home Journal‎, volume 38, page 5:

        In another instant with a flutter of keys Mary Trenzlo had flung back the trunk cover on its shimmering contents.

      • 2022, Ian Crouch, A Pyrrhic Victory Volume III — Fate‎, Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency, page 367:

        When Cyrus left her there by herself she stood quite still and listened to the sounds, a variety of ticks and tocks, faint beats and flutters.

      • 2015, Abra S.W., A Circus of Brass and Bone‎, Bimulous Books:

        Behind her, she heard the flutter of cards being shuffled back into the pack.

      • 1907, The Canadian Alpine Journal‎, volumes 72-74, Alpine Club of Canada., page 47:

        Is it a flutter of birds migrating to the mountain vibes?

      1. (figurative) A sound that spreads in the manner of a wave or ripple.

         A flutter of gasps spread over the crowd.

         • 2011, Barbara W. Tuchman, The First Salute‎, Random House Publishing:

           In all the flutter of peace talk, a public desire to be done with war, and a readiness to compromise through mediation, was revealed.

         • 1927, Joseph Auslander, Frank Ernest Hill, Theresa West Elmendorf, The Winged Horse‎, page 220:

           He was greeted with flutters and exclamations from the "How interesting!" females, hailed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland as "Caledonia's Bard," and in short was marvelled at everywhere.

         • 1916, Katherine Melvina Huntsinger Blackford, Arthur Newcomb, Analyzing Character, the New Science of Judging Men: Misfits in Business, the Home and Social Life‎, page 94:

           There was a flutter of applause from the audience but, appreciatively, it quickly hushed itself.

   3. The rapid up-and-down movement of the eyelids, and consequently eyelashes, often seen as intentionally flirtatious or alluring and often attributed to the eyes or eyebrows.

      He couldn't help but feel more attracted to her with each flutter of her eyes/lashes/eyelids.

      Her eyes did a flutter.

      Synonyms: bat, batting

      • (Can we date this quote?), Ankitaa Kaushal, Threads of Her Heart‎, Forever Shinings Publication, page 37:

        Bon's thighs wrapped around her waist, and Annie moved against her slowly, watching every flutter of her lashes, every gasp that spilled out.

      • 2014, Richard Curtis, Death in the Crease‎, Open Road Media:

        Sturdevant answered with a flutter of the eyes.

      • 1913, Parrot & Co‎, Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 159:

        There was a flutter of eyelids as she sat down beside Warrington and began to chatter to him in Italian.

   4. The movement a hand fan with a back-and-forth action using flicks of the wrist, so as to produce a graceful wave-like effect.

      The flutter of the geisha's fan was elegant.

      • 1876, August Paul, Addison's Influence on the Social Reform of His Age‎, T.G. Meissner, page 55:

        How apt is the flutter of the fan to express the different affections of the belle : there is the angry flutter, the modest flutter, the timorous flutter, the confused flutter etc.

      • 1847, Leight Hunt, Men, Women and Books a Selection of Sketches, Essays, and Critical Memoirs from His Uncollected Prose Writing by Leigh Hunt‎, page 288:

        On the other hand, who ever tires of the names of Oldfield, and Bracegirdle, and Woffington? All the flutters of the fans of two centuries, and all the solid merits of bodices and petticoats, come down to us in their names; chequering Covent Garden like chintz, and bringing along with them the periwigged and scented glories of the Congreves and Steeles.

      • 2019, Robert Hitchens, The Prophet of Berkeley‎, Good Press:

        As to Mrs. Merillia, although she was, in reality, near fainting in wonder at her grandon's escapade, she preserved an expression of gracious benignity, and did not allow a motion of her eyelids or a flutter of her fan to betray her emotion at finding herself the unprepared hostess of such unusual guests.

   5. (swimming) The leg motion of various strokes in swimming, especially the flutter kick.

      The flutter of your legs will propel you through the water, when you execute a proper flutter kick.

      Synonym: kick

      • 1879, Sid. G. Hedges, The Boy's Own Paper‎, volume 45, Leisure House Office, page 66:

        'The body is propelled, headforemost, by a fluttering" of the legs. This flutter bears some resemblance to the crawl-stroke kick-inverted. The knees are together and toes pointed in line with the legs. From the knees, the legs are, alternately, dropped a few inches and then flashed upwards again. The feet thus continually pass and repass, and the "wedges" of water driven out from between the legs force the body along.

      • 2020 April 1, “Improving Your Freestyle Stroke”, in Steve Wallen Swim School‎:

        It is called flutter kick because it is just that, a quick flutter of nearly straight legs, fast and small

      • 1935, Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation‎, volume 6, number April 1935, page 26:

        However, when boys used this new arm action a semi-flutter of both legs was present.

   6. The motion or state of falling while fluttering or falling as to produce fluttering.

      Winged helicopter seeds fall with rapid flutters to the ground.

      The Christmas tree fell in a flutter of ornaments and pine needles.

      • 2022, Sarah Westill, Kynhaven‎:

        Jessi gathered the length of hair from his shoulders to his back, the weight falling in flutters between his shoulders.

      • 2022, D K. Girl, The Fulbourn‎:

        Flutters of colour fell about him, seesawing movement that marked the descent of leaves.

      • 2015, Tessa Bailey, Crashed Out‎, Entangled Publishing, LLC:

        The notebook slipped free of Sarge's fingers, falling in a flutter of white to the ground.

      • 2015, Karl W Heffelfinger, Headlong Into Hell‎:

        This time the topmast fell in a flutter of canvas and shattered spars.

      • 2014, Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior‎, Pan Macmillan:

        she fell in a flutter of sleeves

      • 2018, The Lesley Glaister Collection‎, Open Road Media:

        It fell in a flutter of dusty shreds and moths.

      • 2004, Patricia Lucas White, Edwina Parkhurst Spinster‎:

        He fell, in a flutter of quilts and a storm of cuss words totally unfit for a lady's ears, to her feet.

2. A quick and irregular motion or vibration, or multiple such motions.

   The irregular back-and-forth flutter of this fishing lure imitates the movement of an injured or sick fish.

   Palatal flutter is a cause of sleep apnea and snoring.

   The rolled r sound of Spanish can be created with a flutter of the tongue.

   Synonym: flicker

   candle flutter; tail flutter

   • c. 1838, Richard Monckton Milnes, The Forest:

     the chirp and flutter of some single bird

   • 1866., Chatterbox‎, volume XXVI, United States, page 202:

     (A swan) dashed suddenly forward with such a flutter that the water all round was lashed into foam.

   • 1913, Edward Marshall, The Master of the House‎, G.W. Dillingham Company, page 19:

     "I haven't got it, yet," he told her, while she was behind the screen, above which, as she dressed, there now and then were flutters of swung garments. "But I'll find someone. If you're really in earnest about this-you are, aren't you?"

   • 1878, Chamber's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Arts‎, United Kingdom: W & R Chambers, page 522:

     I turned into the garden, and saw the flutter of her dress as she escaped down a side-walk, and heard the sound of a stifled sob.

   • July 1976, Frank Sargent, “High-Speed Bass”, in Field & Stream‎, page 111:

     the inch-at-a-time flutter of a surface lure

   1. The trembling movement of an iris caused by a lack of support from the lens or as a complication of cataract surgery.

      Synonyms: tremulous iris, iridodonesis

      It's important to note any flutter in the iris.

      • 1965, Nicholas G. Douvas, New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, Symposium on Cataracts‎, Mosby, page 133:

        Flutter, which is present in most iris-supported lenses, is minimized or virtually eliminated.

      • 2013 December 20, “Preoperative considerations in patients with cataracts and pseudoexfoliation syndrome”, in Optometry Times‎:

        Iris flutter, or iridodonesis, is another indirect sign of weak zonules, which hold the lens in place

      • 1979, Nicholas G. Douvas, New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, Symposium on Cataracts: Transactions of the New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology‎, Mosby, page 133:

        Flutter, which is present in most iris - supported lenses, is minimized

   2. The vibration, shaking or flapping of fabric, such as in a kite, parachute or sail; the condition of having such a flutter.

      kite flutter; parachute flutter; sail flutter

      Hyponym: luffing

      Even a weak flutter can damage your sail.

      The flutter of the tarp made it fall onto the heads of those underneath it.

      This design will reduce the chance of flutter in the parachute.

      • 2021, Sailor Sim, Outward Browned‎:

        He eyed the sail's flutter , a tactic Beatense knew.

      • 2026, S. Williams, Sailing Basics (Points of Sail, Trimming): Harnessing Wind‎, NFT Publishing:

        You will see a tiny flutter, a shiver, a vibration along the luff. That flutter is your friend.

      • 2021, Mike Westin, Olle Landsell, Nina Olofsson, Par Olofsson, Seamanship 2.0‎, Bloomsbury Publishing:

        Flutter is when the leech or foot of a sail is vibrating from the wind

   3. (zoology) The vibration of a bird's throat by rapidly pumping air into it with the mouth open in order to reduce excess body heat; gular flutter.

      Witness the flutter of its neck, which helps to lower the bird's body temperature.

      • 2025, Brian Speer, Yvonne R.A. van Zeeland, Current Therapy in Avian Medicine and Surgery Volume II‎, Elsevier, page 450:

        The gular flutter is characterized by a rapid flutter of the gular region caused by flexure and relaxation of the hyoid apparatus.

      • 1979, Paul D. Sturkie, editor, Avian Physiology‎, Springer New York, page 238:

        gular flutter is actuated by flexure of the hyoid apparatus

      • 1973, Stewart Richards, Temperature Regulation‎, Springer US, page 89:

        flutter is absent altogether from passerine species

   4. (music) A method of articulation in playing wind instruments by curving the tongue at the sides and exhaling air over it to make it vibrate; flutter-tongue.

      I've never been able to achieve a proper flutter on my flute.

      • 1970, Edwin Putnik, The Art of Flute-Playing‎, Summy-Birchard Company, page 44:

        This articulation is based on the rapid flutter of the tip of the tongue, with the tongue shaped as in the syllable tr or dr.

      • 1962, Frederick William Westphal, Guide to Teaching Woodwinds‎, W. C. Brown Company:

        In this method the flutter is produced by rolling the tongue rapidly against the reed as in rolling the letter "r" in “ b - r - r - r.

      • (Can we date this quote?), Jacquline LeClair, “Flutter Tonguing: Oboe & English Horn”, in BandDirector.com:

        The oboist usually allows air to escape around the reed and loosens the embouchure to accommodate the flutter.

   5. (medicine, music) Any of several vocal effects, actions, techniques or conditions, notably tremolo, vibrato and trill, which are deliberately cultivated, as well as the neurological disorder vocal tremor or general strain.

      I love the flutter of the singer's voice. I could never develop the flutter needed to do that. Her flutter is excellent.

      That flutter in your voice is a vocal tremor, caused by the involuntary contractions of muscles in the larynx, throat or other adjacent parts of the body.

      • 1991, J. Eric Ahlskog, Mayo Clinic. Department of Neurology, Clinical Examinations in Neurology‎, Mosby Year Book:

        a rapid voice tremor or "flutter" of around 10 Hz, best detected on vowel prolongation.

      • 1957, Douglas Stanley, Your Voice‎, Pitman Publishing, page 30:

        When a voice with a tremolo is pushed, or forced, the flutter of the tongue may spread to the jaw, which then moves up and down with the flutter of the tremolo; this is known as a "jaw tremolo." It may even spread to the chest, which then becomes involved in this tetanic flutter.

      • 2014, Donna Soto-Morettini, Popular Singing and Style‎, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 221:

        The slow flutter of his vibrato gives a melancholy tinge to the proceedings.

   6. (figurative) An exception to, or fluctuation in, a pattern; a minor and temporary deviation from an expectation; a blip in a trend; a transient shift in allegiance.

      Despite an occasional flutter, the water current still flows in the same direction as always.

      Smoking rates have been going down for a long time, despite a few regional and temporary flutters.

      The Democratic Party hasn't lost college students, this is just a flutter.

      We've never even seen a flutter in the loyalty of the MacKenzie clan.

      This isn't the first flutter we've seen from them. They'll come back to us just like they always do.

      • 1925, G.L. Miller & Co., edited by Albert Shaw, The American Review of Reviews‎, volume 72, Review of Reviews, page 15:

        Then you need the "buffer of safety"-thirty per cent of your holdings in Miller Bonds - unaffected by the flutters of the market

      • 1909}, De Loss K. Martin, Glenn D. Gillett and Isabel S. Bemis, “Some Possibilities and Limitations in Common Frequency Broadcasting”, in Proceedings of the IEEE‎, volume 15, page 215:

        The complete flutter of the distant signal would probably so entirely destroy its identity that the crosstalk from it would be a substantially unintelligible noise.

   7. (figurative) A state or episode of agitation, of excited anxiety or anxious excitement, or of anticipation; an act of taking a flutter (To flutter for a short period of time) or of being all of a flutter.

      Antonym: calm

      Synonym: fuss

      in a flutter

      She'd been in a flutter since receiving word that her in-laws were on the way.

      Thoughts of what he had to do tomorrow ignited a flutter to get ready.

      There was a flutter in the office today because Mr Jones came by.

      Joanna was in a giggly flutter for the pop star.

      They were upset, having a flutter about getting me on their side in the dispute.

      • 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], (please specify |epistle=I to IV), London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC:

        flutter of spirits

      • 1900, Henry James, The Soft Side The Third Person Chapter 3

        Their visitor was an issue - at least to the imagination, and they arrived finally, under provocation, at intensities of flutter in which they felt themselves so compromised by his hoverings that they could only consider with relief the fact of nobody's knowing.

      • 1820, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine‎, volume 121, page 526:

        there was no one real drawback to her flutter of excitement and happy anticipation

      • 2024, Carol Marinelli, Bride Under Contract‎, Harlequin:

        He watched confusion start to flicker in her eyes , followed by a flutter of panic.

      • 1888, Benjamin Disraeli, Disraeli's Novels‎, page 109:

        "Oh! I can fancy her flutter! For my part, if there be one character in the world more odious than another, I think it is a fussy woman. Lady, with Lord Cadurcis dining with her, and the new beauty for a niece, must have been in a most delectable state of bustle.

      • 1835, Tobias Smollett, Walter Scott, Select Works of Tobias Smollett With a Memoir of the Life and Writings of the Author‎, volume 2, page 265:

        The first resolution she could take, in the present flutter of her spirits, was to make the best of her way to London, where she thought she might find an asylum in the house of a female relation, married to an eminent physician, known by the name of Kawdle.

      1. A commotion, ruckus or disturbance; a brief state of energetic activity.

         Synonyms: flutter in the dovecote, see also: Thesaurus:commotion

         From my apartment, I heard a flutter in the streets, presumably in protest of the war.

         When I heard a flutter in the basement, I knew it was my daughter sneaking out to play after her bedtime.

         The head of the Florida bureau said there's a flutter among the engineers about that new policy.

         We engaged in an afternoon flutter of preparation for the party.

         • 1928, Charles Francis Stocking, The Identity of Douglas Bain‎, Maestro Company, page 239:

           Flutters of excitement were everywhere apparent.

         • 2010, Nevil Shute, Pied Piper‎, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, page 38:

           The next day was spent in a flutter of business.

         • 1801, Rev. John Moir, The Gospel of Jesus the Philosophy of Life. With an Appendix and Index‎, page 241:

           Our attention is not fufficiently disentangled from the flutter of business, care, or pleasure

         • 1858, Margaret Oliphant Oliphant, Orphans: a chapter in a life, by the author of 'Margaret Maitland'‎, page 141:

           suddenly, to my surprise, Miss Austin, who was the last person I should have looked to for help, interposed, in her matter-of-fact way.

3. A spasmodic vibration of one or more body parts or the entire body; a shudder.

   He found his eyelid flutters annoying enough to see a doctor about them.

   A flutter ran through her, but she steeled her nerves and continued.

   Synonyms: quiver, rumble, spasm, tremor

   • 1907, Journal of Zoöphily‎, volume 14, number 3, Philadelphia: American Anti-Vivisection Society, page 26:

     She had to pick her steps to avoid the flutters of the quivering, bleeding bodies.

   • 1994, Jonn Munford, A Chakra & Kundalini Workbook: Psycho-spiritual Techniques for Health, Rejuvenation, Psychic Powers, and Spiritual Realization‎, 4th edition, Llewellyn Publications, published 2003:

     Eyelid flutter denotes extroversion and agitation

   • 1875, Annie Thomas, The Maskleynes‎, page 130:

     Maud interrupted, with a flutter of the lip, that looked more like the effort to subdue a sneer than a sneer itself

   1. The condition or sensation of a rapid and abnormal heart rhythm; the action of a swift heartbeat.

      She took her own pulse to verify the flutter she felt was real.

      A flutter left him light-headed until he steadied himself by grabbing the railing.

      His heart did a flutter.

      • 1890, Pierce Egan, The Wonder of Kingswood Chace‎, page 72:

        a message which Erle received with a flutter of the heart

      • 2014, Liz Tyner, Ann Lethbridge, Elizabeth Beacon, Harlequin Historical December 2014 - Box Set 2 of 2‎:

        A small shiver slid down her back, but she kept her smile steady, coolly amused, unflustered, despite the unwanted flutter of her pulse.

      • 2020, Janith Hooper, Let Your Heart Beat Again‎:

        But the memory of her vows yesterday settled the flutter in her heart

   2. A feeling of internal shifting, which may be caused by the movement of a fetus, muscular spasms associated with digestion (or indigestion) or other phenomena, including idiosyncratic perceptions.

      Was that a flutter from my soon-to-be baby or a flutter of indigestion? I couldn't tell!

      So you've been feeling flutters in your belly for three days? Any other symptoms?

      She felt the first flutters of the plane's descent.

      A roiling flutter within had me harden my gaze at the man I swore to seek revenge on.

      • 2020, Patty Fischer, The Wind Whistles Wicked‎, Page Publishing Incorporated:

        The vanilla latte he is now drinking is giving him disturbing flutters of a major conga line in his stomach

      • 2026, Johnny Gnall, The Far End‎, FriesenPress, page 145:

        her flutter purred rhythmically with her breathing.

      • 2012, Melissa Andrea, Flutter‎, page 269:

        the influence of the flutter that was connected to Adan was quickly taking a toll on my already weak body

   3. (figurative) A flash of emotion that accompanies an internal sensation, such as a rapid pulsation of the heart or a quiver of nervous disquiet; a small burst of emotion that may be felt or expressed; a fleeting feeling or idea experienced as a feeling.

      He was mostly over his phobia of dogs, but sometimes the sight of a dog still gave him a flutter of terror.

      Some of her father's ways still triggered flutters of that old burning resentment in her. She spoke of him with a flutter of her bitterness that others could sense.

      When he saw that smiling photo of her, he got a flutter of hope that she would come back one day.

      flutter of pain, agony, etc.; flutter of interest, learning, knowledge

      Synonyms: twinge, frisson, flicker

      • 1914, Arnold Bennett, The Price of Love‎, Harper & Brothers, page 418:

        Not that she cared twopence for the enormous sum, really, now that concord was established! No, her little flutters of honest remorse were constantly disappearing in the immense exultant joy of being alive and of contemplating her idol.

      • 2013, Linda Skye, A Dance with Indecency‎:

        Elise nodded, fighting the traitorous flutters of excitement in her stomach.

      • 1904, The Loves of Edwy‎, Lothrop Publishing Company, page 239:

        "Well, why did you tell me?" said I softly, to enjoy her flutters of amazement, of dismay.

   4. (medicine) The rapid horizontal movement (saccades) of the eyes without pausing between them; ocular flutter.

      That flutter in the patient's eyes means there's a neurological problem.

      • 2019, Aasef G. Shaikh, Stefano Ramat, editor, Mathematical Modelling in Motor Neuroscience: State of the Art and Translation to the Clinic, Gaze Orienting Mechanisms and Disease‎, volume 249, page 68:

        We will first comment on the atypical flutter of our patient and then on the concept of opsoclonus/flutter of our patient and then on the concept of flutter upon convergence.

      • 2014, Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences‎, volume 1, Elsevier Science, page 619:

        Postsaccadic bursts of double saccadic pulses are called flutter dysmetria and multivectorial flutter is opsoclonus

      • 1974, Andrew J. Gay, Eye Movement Disorders‎, page 142:

        Flutter is seen as the result of fixation and refixation efforts and consists of a short burst of horizontal oscillations.

   5. (medicine) An abnormal rapid pulsation of the heart, caused by the too-rapid beating of the upper chambers; the condition of experiencing such a flutter.

      Synonyms: atrial flutter, auricular flutter

      You need a cardiologist to treat this flutter in your heart. Your cardiologist will have ways of getting you out of flutter.

      • 1985, Robert Kraus, The Practice of Echocardiography‎, page 143:

        The recording speed is also of importance in detecting flutters of high frequency.

      • (Can we date this quote?), Spineanu Eugenia, Harmony in Flutter: A Comprehensive Exploration of Atrial Flutter - From Molecular Insights to Holistic Health‎:

        Flutter is defined by a rapid and regular atrial rhythm originating from reentrant circuit within the atria.

      • 2020, David Callans, Josephson's Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology‎, Wolters Kluwer Health:

        flutters that arise in the left atrium

   6. (medicine) The vibration of a heart valve; the condition of experiencing such vibrations.

      I see a distinct flutter in your echocardiogram.

      • 2023, Tayfun E. Tezduyar, editor, Frontiers in Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction and Flow Simulation‎, Springer International Publishing, page 177:

        In addition to investigating the phenomena responsible for initiating flutter, expanded studies of heart valve leaflet flutter could explore other relevant system parameters, such as flow speed and valve size, that may induce or reduce flutter.

      • 1985, Hugo Spindola-Franco, Robert Eisenberg, Bernard G. Fish, Charles B. Higgins, Richard M. Steingart, John P. Wexler, Radiology of the Heart‎, Springer:

        the flutter of the anterior mitral leaflet is best delineated

      • 2024 October 29, Chen, L.; Zhang, Z.; Li, T.; Chen, Y, “A Review of Biomechanical Studies of Heart Valve Flutter”, in Fluids:

        In this review, we summarize and analyze the existing literature; discuss the detection methods of frequency and amplitude of heart valve flutter, and its potential effects on valve function, such as thrombosis and valve degeneration; and discuss some possible ways to avoid flutter.

   7. (medicine) A contraction of the diaphragm caused by synchronous diaphragmatic flutter.

      Synonyms: hiccups, singultus

      The flutter has been treated, and symptoms of synchronous diaphragmatic flutter are no longer present.

      • 1963, Modern Veterinary Practice‎, American Veterinary Publications, page 234:

        the flutter stopped temporarily

      • 2017, Michael Chiou, BA; María Victoria Herrero; John R. Bach, MD; Jeffrey L. Cole, MD; and Enrique Luis Gonzales, AAS, CRT, RRT, “Treatment of Idiopathic Diaphragm Flutter”, in CHEST‎:

        A 35-year-old woman’s flutter was triggered by increasing the depth of breathing and by (electrical) stimulation of the diaphragm.

      • 1989, Michael A. Ball, Understanding Equine First Aid: Your Guide to Horse Health Care and Management, Blood-Horse, Incorporated, page 75:

        It looks like a mild contraction or "flutter" of the diaphragm (almost like a mild hiccup), but it is not associated with breathing

4. A physical oscillation in a mechanical device; a state of oscillation; the action of oscillation.

   I felt each flutter of the lawnmower as it struggled to start.

   The needle on this gauge was in a flutter, which makes it hard to read the result.

   The flutter of the drill makes me tired just from holding it.

   • 1916, The Wood-Worker‎, volume 35, number May 1916, page 36:

     The "flutter" of the saw between the guides is caused by lower guides clamping saw, and is a prolific cause of bullheads and cracks, the former because it holds the saw as the shock of contact occurs, and increases the overthrow of the top wheel.

   • 1955, Harold Leigh Beaney, Gavin R. Battye, Report on the Design and Construction of Dams in the United States of America‎, page 32:

     In this installation consideration had to be given to the elastic behavior of the control pipes in relation to flutter of the valve leaf.

   • 2019, Yoshihiko Sugiyama, Mikael A. Langthjem, Kazuo Katayama, Dynamic Stability of Columns Under Nonconservative Forces‎, page 97:

     Figure 7.13 shows stability diagrams that illustrate the effect of the magnitude of the damping coefficient of the damper on the flutter of the pipe.

   1. (uncountable, aerodynamics) An extremely dangerous divergent oscillation caused by a positive feedback loop between the elastic deformation of an object and the aerodynamic forces acting on it, potentially resulting in rapid structural failure.

      wind turbine flutter, propellor flutter, blade flutter, fan flutter, fin flutter, whirl flutter, wing flutter

      The flutter characteristics of the new design suggest that it will hold up well in real-world conditions.

      • 2007, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, “1.12.12 Age-Related Structures and Materials Degradation”, in Aviation Investigation Report A05F0047, Loss of Rudder in Flight, Air Transat Airbus A310-308 C-GPAT, Miami, Florida, 90 nm S, 06 March 2005‎, archived from the original on 23 July 2021, page 40:

        The possibility was studied that there might be some unknown phenomenon at work that could cause a reduction in structural stiffness with age. Such a reduction in stiffness could result in a reduced flutter speed and lead to flutter. In 2004, Airbus conducted GVT in support of its MRTT program. The testing was conducted on an aged A310 aircraft (MSN 523) that had accumulated over 28 000 flight hours. This test aircraft had the same design of VTP and rudder as the occurrence aircraft. GVT results found that fin bending and rudder rotation frequencies of the MRTT test aircraft were consistent with those obtained during the original A310-300 certification. No indication was found to suggest that stiffness had reduced with age.

      • 2022, Mayank Chetan, Shulong Yao, and D. Todd Griffith, “Flutter behavior of highly flexible blades for two- and three-bladed wind turbines”, in Wind Energy Science‎:

        In this work, we introduce a comprehensive evaluation of flutter behavior including classical flutter, edgewise vibration, and flutter mode characteristics for two-bladed, downwind rotors.

      • 2026, Tianxing Chen, Kun Guo, Huichao Deng, Yuchen Xia, Hao Luo, Yunlong Li and Xiuwei Tian, “Flutter Analysis of a Morphing Wing Considering Fluid–Thermal–Structure Coupling”, in AIAA Journal‎:

        The investigation reveals that flutter onset is consistently governed by the coupling of the first two structural modes, establishing the primary instability boundary, while a secondary instability pathway involving the third and fourth modes uniquely emerges for the fully extended wing.

   2. The sound created when the throttle body in an engine is closed, forcing air through the turbocharger in the wrong direction, which makes the air bounce against the compressor blades, stalling them; the condition of having this occur in an engine.

      Synonyms: chatter, compressor surge, dose, stutututu, turbo flutter

      You have a compressor surge, I could hear the flutter in your engine. I can show you how to fix the flutter.

      • 2026, Mohammed Hamed Ahmed Soliman, Turbocharger Diagnostics & Performance Optimization: Boost Control, Failure Analysis, and Tuning for Modern Forced Induction Systems‎, Personal Lean Publictations, page 82:

        If you hear flutter on acceleration, it is dangerous surge.

   3. The shaking of a vehicle or part of a vehicle, especially when caused by the engine surging, stalling or fluctuating in RPM.

      Synonyms: judder, rattle, shake, shudder, vibration, wobble

      The flutters are a sign that something is seriously wrong with your car.

      • 2013, Ian Cormack, The Great Ruhawa‎:

        A flutter of the engine, and then it stopped.

5. A fluctuation in sound, especially a malfunction in technology.

   Synonym: flicker

   The bird's song was full of trills and flutters.

   I can hear a flutter in this movie's soundtrack.

   1. A wavering quality in a voice, usually suggesting a specified feeling.

      I heard a flutter when she spoke.

      He said he could do it, but the flutter in his voice told me he lacked confidence.

      "Wellllll..." he said, and I could tell from the flutter that he was not going to commit to buy today.

      • 2022, Joseph R. Lallo, The Book of Deacon‎:

        Turiel said, the merest flutter of effort in her tone.

      • 1866, Adeline Dutton Train Whitney, A Summer in Leslie Goldthwaite's Life‎, page 16:

        "I shouldn't have cared for Newport, or the Springs, father, truly," said Leslie, with a little hopeful flutter of eagerness in her voice, "but the real mountains, - O father!"

      • 2002, David B. Coe, Rules of Ascension‎, Tom Doherty Associates, page 127:

        "I want to release you from your oath," he said, a slight flutter in his voice.

   2. The sound of a camera shutter opening to let in light when taking a picture, or the sound of a camera app that simulates the same thing.

      The explosion of flutters behind me let me know the paparazzi were here.

      • 2024, Megan Miranda, Daughter of Mine‎, Scribner, page 95:

        I heard the flutter of a camera, saw a man a few yards behind me taking photos with a long-range lens.

   3. A sound distortion in film, as in an old movie, caused by variable film speed across the sound head.

      A lot of people find the flutter of film to be an annoying distraction.

      • 1916, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Journal of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers‎, page 188:

        On the exhibition end, most of the sound heads in use at present slide the film past a stationary sound gate with the result that irregularities in the friction of the film against the gate produce a flutter. As a result of film shrinkage, only one pair of teeth in the pulling sprocket made contact with the film at one time. At the moment the pulling pair of teeth are disengaged from the film a slight slippage of the film is required to bring the next pair of teeth in contact with it. This results in a speed variation known as sprocket-hole modulation. Where a hold-back sprocket is not provided, variations in the tension of the takeup mechanism are transmitted directly to the pulling sprocket with resulting variations in speed.

      • 1930, “Instructions in Sound”, in Moving Picture Review & Theatre Management‎, volume 25, Exhibitors Trade Review Publishing, page 40:

        Take-ups Cause Flutter

      • 1942, “Circular of the National Bureau of Standards”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎, number 439, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 18:

        Fortunately, the ear is quite tolerant of variations in pitch (flutter) caused by variation in film speed of speech recordings

   4. (audio) The distortion in a cassette recording, especially the distortion caused by variations in the speed of the magnetic tape due to sticking and slipping during playback or recording.

      The flutter is part of the appeal for cassette enthusiasts.

      • 1979, J. Strackee, Robert S. Reneman, editor, Data in Medicine: Collection, Processing and Presentation: A Physical-Technical Introduction for Physicians and Biologists‎, Springer Netherlands, page 200:

        To specify the effect of flutter with one figure can be extremely misleading, for it says nothing about the distribution of flutter in the spectrum of interest.

   5. (audio, electronics) The rapid variation of signal parameters, such as amplitude, phase, and frequency, caused by variations in the speed of the playback from a record player; the condition of having such variation.

      I maintain all of the equipment in tiptop condition, so there's no wow or flutter.

      He diagnosed my system's flutter.

      Coordinate term: wow

      • 1930, F.H. Richardson, “F.H. Richardson's Comments”, in Motion Picture Herald‎, volume 120, page 22:

        Difference between flutter and wow

   6. The sound created by a flutter echo.

      The flutter in this room is from the hard, parallel walls.

      • 2008, Floyd E. Toole, Sound Reproduction: The Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Loudspeakers and Rooms‎, Elsevier:

        To hear a flutter echo, all one needs is a pair of parallel surfaces (and they need not be very large), stand between them, and clap hands. Nowhere else in the vast garden were there any flutters.

   7. The pulsating sound created by the phase distortion caused by the simultaneous playback of two frequencies.

      The two recordings aren't synced up well enough to get rid of that flutter.

   8. The sound distortion created by a turntable picking up subsonic interference.

      Synonyms: cone flutter, woofer flutter, woofer pumping

   9. The sound distortion created by vibrations in a speaker; speaker flutter.

      I finally solved the flutter from that speaker.

6. A flicker or fluctuation in light; a type of visual distortion.

   The flutter of the lamplight cast a romantic glow on the room.

   The flutter effect strains my eyes.

   Synonym: flicker

   • 1919, Journal of Physical Chemistry‎, volume 23, page 343:

     If the two pictures are colored or shaded differently, one eye will get tired before the other and the brain will momentarily give most of its attention to the second eye which is pointing in the right direction, while the first or fatigued eye will go more or less to sleep and will turn outward... The result is that the brain gets a fluttering sensation superimposed on the perception of form and color. This flutter comes from the direction muscles and not from the retina. If the two pictures are of somewhat different brightness, the attention will shift from one to the other and the iris muscles will also flutter; the difference must not be too great or the brighter image will hold the attention all the time, so that there will be a more nearly steady state with less flutter. If the two pictures are of different colors there will be a flutter of color sensation through the optic nerve in addition to the flutter of the focusing muscles.

   • 1909, Psychological Monographs‎, American Psychological Association, page 78:

     I perceive no flutter or bending of the lines

   • 2002, R.R. Gulati, Modern Television Practice Principles,Technology and Servicing‎, New Delhi: New Age International, page 215:

     Flutter in the picture due to passing aeroplanes and other fading effects are reduced.

   1. A malfunction in the image on a television, monitor or screen, which may be fluctuations in brightness, bands of distortion or a flickering or blurry quality; the condition of displaying such a malfunction.

      I hate watching that TV, because of its flutter.

   2. A jumping or flickering effect in a film or a video, which may come from damage to the film or to defects in the recording, such as a shaky camera, or which may be a digital effect that simulates such conditions.

      The flutter on those old movies makes it hard to see the details.

      • 1929, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Fundamentals of Sound Recording‎, page 192:

        Anything that causes the film to pass the light beam jerkily produces flutter.

7. A speculative endeavor, especially a small one; an act of taking a flutter (To support a risky option.).
   • 2011, Iris Gower, The Wild Seed‎, Transworld:

     "Not that I am averse to having a business flutter, mind you." "This will be more than a flutter, I assure you."

   • 2015, Alain Robert, With Bare Hands‎, Maverick Publishing Limited:

     Maybe they thought I was one of those golden boys or hot shots that blew everything on a risky flutter on the stock exchange

   1. (dated, usually as have a flutter on) An attempt or try.

      We had a flutter on the project, but we didn't get very far on it.

      • 1913, Parliamentary Papers‎, H.M. Stationery Office, page 348:

        You had a flutter? Yes. And yet you suggest that the Government did not take things seriously enough whilst you were conducting this flutter?

      • 1923, Chartered Municipal Engineer‎, Institution of Municipal Engineers, page 973:

        Paignton had had a flutter at including an adjoining area

      • 1928, The Homing Pigeon, and National Homing Union Members' Gazette‎, volume 25, page 1020:

        If you believe you have, send it along, and have a flutter for one of the big money prizes we offer.

   2. (UK, usually a flutter over) An act of foxhunting.

      We should have luck with a flutter over the north field.

      • 1894, Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes‎, volume 62, page 419:

        A flutter over the well-known water ditch, a desultory charge of a hundred and fifty horsemen and women up the hill beyond

      • 1920, A.S. Horwood, The Sphere: An Illustrated Newspaper for the Home‎, page 62:

        In October, however, hounds may be allowed to have a flutter and to get away with their fox in the open, and then fields are bigger

      • 1909, Punch‎, page 128:

        Occasion what the D.T. gentleman calls "a flutter" and "brief scurries".

   3. (UK) A small bet or risky investment, especially from a rookie gambler; an act of taking a flutter (To place a small bet.).

      I fancied a flutter, and I won eighty pounds on it.

      • 1915, W. Somerset Maugham, chapter 93, in Of Human Bondage:

        "Oh, by the way, I heard of a rather good thing today, New Kleinfonteins; it's a gold mine in Rhodesia. If you'd like to have a flutter you might make a bit."

      • 30 July, 2009, Eurosport, Gray Matter: How will Schu do?

        So with his victory odds currently at 14/1 or 3/1 for the podium, he's still most certainly well worth a flutter […]

      • 1976, William Robson, Welfare State and Welfare Society: Illusion and Reality‎, Taylor & Francis:

        These regular and committed gamblers are not engaged in a flutter, or a romantic adventure.

   4. A hasty or casual game, e.g. of cards.

      We usually just have a flutter after dinner, but once the game is through, we all go to our rooms.

      • 1900, W.E.W. Collins, A Scholar of His College‎, volume 900, page 151:

        "We have a loo in College every night-of course that is not every night, but most nights-not a big loo at all, you know, but just a small party of our own. I would almost rather we played whist myself, but the other fellows don't like whist, it's too awfully scientific; and at loo, you know, you can have a bit of a flutter. It helps to pass the time after Hall."

8. One or more objects or phenomena that flutter, that move as if fluttering, that appear to be fluttering or that cause fluttering; something fluttery.

   The castle was adorned with ribbons, flags and other flutters that waved in the stiff wind.

   • 1900, Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman, The Love of Parson Lord: And Other Stories, page 25:

     Then he looked from her to some gayer figures moving along the road with flutters of bright streamers and flounces

   • 1924, George Henry Chase, Chandler Rathfon Post, A History of Sculpture‎, page 372:

     As the nudities and mythologies of the sixteenth century lost something of their vogue, the draperies acquired greater significance in the general effect; and the impression of agitation was accentuated by exaggerated flutters of wide-flung expanses of carved stuffs.

   • 1923, Arthur Kingsley Porter, Romanesque Sculpture of the Pilgrimage Roads‎, volume 1, Marshall Jones Company, page 163:

     The flutters of drapery falling from the arms of the two angels in the upper compartment of the ivory, recall those falling from the right-hand arm of the elder to the left in Houvet's Plate 50.

   • 1906, Sunset‎, volume 17, page 328:

     You will see as vivacious and bright a flutter of femininity as ever at Maskey's, or at the Peacock or the Golden Pheasant in the old days

   1. A state of being amid or decorated in items that flutter.
      • 1918, The United States in a Chaotic World‎, volume 30, page 23:

        In such an atmosphere the harbor was flecked with brilliantly decked craft of every description, all in a flutter of flags and carrying a host of passengers in gala dress.

      • 1861, Harriet Beecher Stowe, The Pearl of Orr's Island‎:

        Sally at last appeared, all in a flutter of ribbons and scarfs, whose bright, high colors assorted well with the ultramarine blue of her dress, and the vivid pomegranate hue of her cheeks.

      • 2025, Barbara Baumhoer, Andrew Baumhoer, Magic and Moonlight‎, Gatekeeper Press:

        In a flutter of cloth and feathers, Trini quickly changes into her bird and takes to the sky disappearing into the forest.

   2. A flurry of snow, smoke, dust, etc., or a light rain shower, or another phenomenon experientially similar to a light burst of rain or snow.

      A flutter of snow covered the landscape in a thin layer of white.

      • 2024, Yasmine Galenorn, A Dream of Snow‎:

        A light flutter of snow fell , and I glanced into the silvery sky, letting the flakes fall on my face.

      • 1827, Thomas Hood, The exile. The owl. The German knight. The Florentine kinsmen. The carrier's wife. The two faithful lovers of Sicily. The Venetan countess. A tale of the harem. The chestnut tree. The fair maid of Ludgate. The three brothers‎, page 123:

        Those who were nearest saw her head drop suddenly, as she choked upon her bosom; and then the cords burning through and through, the whole lifeless body tumbled forward into the embers, causing a considerable flutter of dust and smoke; and when it cleared away, there was nothing to be seen but a confused heap of ashes and dying embers.

   3. A breeze or wind that might cause an item to flutter.

      The flag was hanging limp all day, until a flutter made it stand up and ripple for a few seconds.

      • 1878, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Poganuc People: Their Loves and Lives‎, page 199:

        little flutters of breeze shook the white hats of the daisies

      • 2025, Joslyn Chase, A Band of Scheming Women‎:

        A flutter of air teased the back of Dakota's neck

      • 1892, “Music”, in Yale Literary Magazine‎, number 508, page 296:

        The air breaks into flutters low and sweet,/Smooth as the liquid passage of the bird;/And as the ocean-murmur

   4. (clothing) The flow and feel of a garment or outfit, particularly a woman's dress or gown, which moves or appears likely to move in a graceful and airy manner when worn, especially in a light breeze.

      The flutter of that gown is characteristic of the designer's style. Its flutter means it looks best in a light breeze.

   5. (dated) A feature of clothing (often lace) intended to flutter, such as flaps, straps, trim, etc.

      Hyponym: flutter sleeve

      On this gown, flutters of red on the shoulders and arms provide visual interest.

      • 1928, Parinite, edited by David Remnick, Harold Wallace Ross, Katharine Sergeant Angell White, Rea Irvin, Roger Angell, Tina Brown, William Shawn, The New Yorker‎, volume 4, number 15, page 66:

        A Worth taffeta model in the approved bunched, draped, and long-in-places style has flutters of lace set in the skirt.

      • 1904, Henry James, The Golden Bowl‎, page 99:

        Her flutter--pale disconcerted ghost as she actually was, a broken white flower tied round, almost grotesquely for his present sense, with a huge satin "bow" of the Boulevard--her flutter had been mainly that of ribbons, frills and fine fabrics; all funny, pathetic evidence, for memory, of the bewilderments overtaking them as a bridal pair confronted with opportunity.

      • 1914, Ernest Scott, The Life of Captain Matthew‎:

        he found himself enveloped in a frothy abundance of frills and fal-lals, lace at the wrists, lace round the neck, with flutters of ribbon here and there.

   6. (collective) A group of butterflies or moths.

      The flutter that passed us by was made up of monarch butterflies.

      Synonym: swarm

      Hyponym: kaleidoscope

      • 1918, Patrick Casey, Terence Casey, The Wolf-cub: A Novel of Spain‎, page 91:

        Instantly a great flutter of butterflies of all sizes and colors lifted in spangled clouds about them.

      • 1901, Country Life‎, volume 40, number July, page 2:

        Gay as a flutter of butterflies and light as a zephyr, these dainty fabrics instantly suggest a wardrobe of sheer delight.

      • 1954, Hubert Van Zeller, Downside By and Large‎, page 277:

        Since this cowl released a flutter of moths and parted at the shoulder as he was getting into it, he decided that it must be his own.

   7. (historical, engineering) A combination of steam and water visible at the top gauge cock of a steam-boiler.

      The flutter in that gauge-cock makes it hard to see what the correct water level is.

      • 1907, W. G. Wallace, Locomotive Breakdown Questions‎, F.J. Drake & Company, page 87:

        If such was the case and a hole drilled through the brace in the boiler, it might become stopped up opposite the gauge cock and the steam would leak down between the boiler head and the brace on the inside, which would perhaps cause a flutter of steam and water to show at the gauge cock when open.

      • 1880, William Miller Barr, Handbook for Steam Engineers and Owners: Being a Practical Guide to the Selection and Care of Steam Machinery‎, J.H. Kerrick & Company, page 119:

        Priming may easily be detected by the motion of the water in the glass water gauge, or by the "flutter" of the gauge cocks when opened.

      • 1874, Railroad Gazette‎, volume 6, page 352:

        To use a phrase employed by practical men, the priming or foaming of the boiler may be known by the "flutter" of the gauge cocks.

9. A small amount or a small sign of something.

   The nuns prayed on the matter daily, sending flutters of devotion to the heavens.

   Everywhere he saw flutters of war and knew the rumors of peace were mere idle talk.

   • 2011, Chris English, PhillyBurbs.com‎:

     Little paper birds are flying out of Neil A. Armstrong Middle School in Bristol Township, and each one brings another small flutter of help for the devastated people of Japan.

   • 2013, Charles Finch, An Old Betrayal‎, St. Martin's Publishing Group, page 57:

     As he walked toward the mall he saw flutters of spring everywhere.

   • 2015, Catherynne M. Valente, The Boy Who Lost Fairyland‎, Feiwel & Friends, page 215:

     without the slightest flutter of malice in her round face.

   • 2000, Norma Jean Profitt, Women Survivors, Psychological Trauma, and the Politics of Resistance‎, Taylor & Francis, page 99:

     After she told her parents about her grandfather's actions, their small flutter of support was followed by her mother's claim that she had made it all up.

   • 2010 June 29, Glastonbury.co.uk, Trader Tales‎:

     Then we are. We open up the marquee. There is a flutter of business… but only a flutter because the field is virtually empty – the queues have all gone. Then we realise: England are playing and everyone is watching the match on the Pyramid Stage. We hear a roar and horns and whistles; England have scored.

   1. A fragment or flash of a color or of light or sound.

      Amid the flutters of sunshine drifting through the dense canopy, I spotted my target.

      Here on the painting we see flutters of blue, suggesting the sky beyond.

      Aside from a few stray flutters of laughter, the audience was silent.

      • 1840, Patten Beard, “Peter of the Wild Rose-Tree”, in St. nicholas: A Monthly Magazine for Boys and Girls‎, volume 41, part 2:

        With flutters of white showing in his big blue-gray wings, he dropped from twig to twig

      • 1914, John Graver Johnson, Bernard Berenson, Wilhelm Reinhold Valentiner, Catalogue of a Collection of Paintings and Some Art Objects‎, volume 3:

        High up hover a few flutters of rosy creamy cloud.

      • 1966, R. F. Delderfield, A Horseman Riding By‎, Open Road Media:

        His eye was alerted by a flutter of white seen through the snarl of branches between his stump and the Mere, and on looking more closely was surprised to see Mary sitting about a hundred yards below him on a mossy log, opposite the islet.

   2. (figurative) A scrap or fragment of, e.g., rumors, history, sentiment, etc.

      I asked around and heard nothing concrete, just flutters of accusations of bad behavior.

      Despite the lack of written records, we have dredged up a few flutters of information about that era of history.

      Polls are scarce on this subject, so this one flutter of data may be all we have to make our decision.

      • 2025, Megan Hunter, Days of Light‎, Grove Atlantic:

        she had heard stories about him, flutters of talk through open doors.

      • 1910, New Zealand House of Representatives, Appendix to the Journal of the House of the Representatives‎, New Zealand, page 5:

        flutters of information on the subject.

      • 1901, John Morley, editor, English Men of Letters‎, volume 30:

        Yet in that February there were still some flutters of song, one of which was, Hey for the Lass wi' a Tocher, written in answer to Thomson's beseeching inquiry if he was never to hear from him again.

      • 1930, Journal of the Town Planning Institute of Canada‎, volumes 8-9, Town Planning Institute of Canada, page 24:

        In a number of other towns there are flutters of town planning interest which ought to be utilized by the city councils and translated into programs, but city councils generally do not seem to be alive to the importance of the movement.