flut·ter / ˈflətər/ • v. [intr.] (of a bird or other winged creature) fly unsteadily or hover by flapping the wings quickly and lightly: a couple of butterflies fluttered around the garden. ∎  (with reference to a bird's wings) flap in such a way: their wings flutter and spread | [tr.] the lark fluttered its wings, hovering. ∎  move or fall with a light irregular or trembling motion: the remaining petals fluttered to the ground. ∎  (of a person) move restlessly or uncertainly: the hostess fluttered forward to greet her guests. ∎  (of a pulse or heartbeat) beat feebly or irregularly.• n. 1. an act of fluttering: there was a flutter of wings at the window. ∎  a state or sensation of tremulous excitement: Sandra felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach her insides were in a flutter. ∎  Aeron. undesired oscillation in a part of an aircraft under stress. ∎  Med. disturbance of the rhythm of the heart that is less severe than fibrillation: atrial flutter | I was diagnosed as having a heart flutter. ∎  Electr. rapid variation in the pitch or amplitude of a signal, esp. of recorded sound. Compare with wow² .2. Brit., inf. a small bet: a flutter on the horses.PHRASES: flutter one's eyelashes open and close one's eyes rapidly in a coyly flirtatious manner.DERIVATIVES: flut·ter·er n.flut·ter·ing·ly adv.flut·ter·y adj.

flutter †float to and fro; flap the wings rapidly OE.; quiver, tremble excitedly. XVI. OE. floterian, -orian, frequent. of Gmc. *flut-; see FLEET3, -ER4.

Flutter

of cardiologists—Mensa.

flutter (flut-er) n. a disturbance of normal heart rhythm, less rapid and less chaotic than fibrillation.