flutter

1. (intransitive) To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.Examples: "flags fluttering in the wind"; "Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped ; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth and heaping kindling on the coals, [...]"intransitive

2. (intransitive) Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.Examples: "Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes."intransitive

3. (intransitive, aerodynamics) To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.intransitive

4. (transitive) To cause something to flap.Examples: "A bird flutters its wings."transitive

5. (transitive) To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.Examples: "If you haue vvrit your Annales true, 'tis there, / That like an Eagle in a Doue-cote, I / Flatter'd^([sic – meaning Flutter'd]) your Volcians in Corioles."; "There was a clearness of expression in this, and a downright surrender of himself, which so flattered her and so fluttered her that she was almost reduced to the giving of herself up because she could not reply to such an appeal in language less courteous than that of agreement"transitive

6. (intransitive) To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.Examples: "It was fluttering with nervousness like a human heart. He was all in a sweat with fear, and—do you know, I don't believe the rascal is a Robot at all any longer."intransitive