English Reference

Word

flapping

Phoneticsflap·ping

US/ˈfɫæpɪŋ/

UK/flˈæpɪŋ/

Definition

n. the quick up-and-down movement of wings or something thin and flat. It can also describe the sound made by this movement.

n. the act or sound of moving wings or a flat object rapidly up and down. Often refers to the motion of birds in flight or fabric caught in the wind.

Examples

“The sudden flapping of wings startled the cat.”

“The constant flapping of the loose tent cover made it difficult for the campers to sleep through the night.”

“The rhythmic flapping of the ship's sails against the mast provided a steady acoustic backdrop to the captain's morning observations.”

Examples

simple

“The sudden flapping of wings startled the cat.”

contextual

“The constant flapping of the loose tent cover made it difficult for the campers to sleep through the night.”

complex

“The rhythmic flapping of the ship's sails against the mast provided a steady acoustic backdrop to the captain's morning observations.”

Usage

Often appears in the phrase 'flapping of' followed by a noun like wings, sails, or flags.

Real-World Examples

“This newer design has larger flapping wings that support more agile flight.”
ScienceDaily · 22 Sept 2026

Word family

Domain

Computing

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/flapping

English Reference