flutter

flut|ter¹ [ˈflʌtə US -ər] v

[: Old English; Origin: floterian]

1.) [I and T]

if a bird or insect flutters, or if it flutters its wings, it flies by moving its wings lightly up and down

▪ A small bird fluttered past the window.

2.)

to make small gentle movements in the air

▪ Dead leaves fluttered slowly to the ground.

▪ The flag fluttered in the light breeze.

3.) [I]

if your heart or your stomach flutters, you feel very excited or nervous

4.) [I]

if your eyelids flutter, they move slightly when you are asleep

▪ Her eyelids fluttered but did not open.

5.) flutter your eyelashes (at sb)

if a woman flutters her eyelashes at a man, she looks at him and moves her eyes to make herself attractive to him

flutter ²

flutter² [i]n [singular]

1.) a feeling of being nervous, confused, or excited

in a flutter

▪ She was all in a flutter.

▪ His sudden resignation caused quite a flutter.

2.) a flutter of sth

a sudden feeling that is not very strong

▪ She felt a flutter of curiosity.

3.) a light gentle movement

flutter of

▪ a flutter of wings

4.) have a flutter

BrE informal to risk a small amount of money on the result of something such as a horse race

= ↑have a bet