flag

flag¹ [flæg] n

[Sense: 1-4; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Perhaps from flag, name of a kind of flower.]

[Sense: 5; Date: 1400-1500; : Old Norse; Origin: flaga]

1.) a piece of cloth with a coloured pattern or picture on it that represents a country or organization

▪ Children waving flags greeted the Russian leader.

▪ the flag of Kenya

▪ the Spanish flag

a flag is flying

(=a flag is shown on a pole)

▪ Flags were flying at half-mast because of the death of the Premier.

2.) a coloured piece of cloth used in some sports as a signal or as a sign showing the position of something

▪ The flag went down, and the race began.

▪ a free kick near the corner flag (=flag on a football pitch)

3.) the flag

an expression meaning a country or organization and its beliefs, values, and people

▪ loyalty to the flag

4.) keep the flag flying

to achieve success on behalf of your country in a competition

▪ Bristol kept the flag flying for English rugby with this win.

5.) a ↑flagstone

→fly the flag at ↑fly¹ (13)

flag ²

flag² v past tense and past participle flagged present participle flagging

[Date: 1500-1600; Origin: Origin unknown]

1.) [T]

to make a mark against some information to show that it is important

▪ I've flagged the parts I want to comment on.

2.)

to become tired or weak

▪ By the end of the meeting we had begun to flag.

flag down [flag sb/sth<=>down] [i]phr v

to make the driver of a vehicle stop by waving at them

▪ I flagged down a taxi.