flutter
part of speech
verb (flutter, flutters, fluttered, fluttering); noun (a flutter, flutters)
meaning for a pupil
1) To move wings quickly and lightly, or to fly with quick small movements, like a butterfly. tree →
2) To move gently and quickly back and forth in the air, like a flag or leaves. tree →
3) (of the heart) To beat fast and unevenly because of excitement or nerves. tree →
4) (noun, UK informal) A small bet: «have a flutter on the horses». tree →
5) (noun) A state of excitement: «in a flutter». tree →
sense in the lessons
In science and nature stories butterflies, moths and birds flutter. In stories a nervous character's heart flutters. In UK and Irish everyday talk a «flutter» is a small, fun bet on a horse race. Phrases: «flutter about», «flutter your eyelashes», «have a flutter», «in a flutter».
examples
- The butterfly fluttered from flower to flower. tree →
- The flags fluttered in the wind. tree →
- My heart fluttered when they called my name. tree →
- Leaves fluttered down to the ground. tree →
- Grandad has a little flutter on the Grand National. tree →
- The baby bird fluttered its wings but couldn't fly yet. tree →
- She was all in a flutter before the show. tree →
- But the Eagle, uttering a dolorous cry, fluttered his broad wings and disappeared. tree →
note
Regular verb: fluttered. Double t. «A flutter» (bet) is UK/Ireland informal. Similar: flap (bigger, slower), flicker (light), quiver.
In the corpora
- My heart fluttereth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «flutter» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.