# flutter

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈflʌtə/ · frequency rank #26,795

## Definitions
1. To flap or wave quickly but irregularly.
2. Of a winged animal: to flap the wings without flying; to fly with a light flapping of the wings.
3. To undergo divergent oscillations (potentially to the point of causing structural failure) due to a positive feedback loop between elastic deformation and aerodynamic forces.
4. To cause something to flap.
5. To drive into disorder; to throw into confusion.
6. To be in a state of agitation or uncertainty.
7. To be frivolous.
8. To subject to a lie detector test.

## Etymology
From Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, flotorian (“to float about, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), equivalent to float + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian flodderje (“to flutter, beat”), Dutch flodderen (“to flutter, wave”), Low German fluttern, fluddern (“to flutter”), German flittern (“to sparkle, glitter”). More at float.

## Easily confused with
- **flute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flute-vs-flutter)
- **fatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fatter-vs-flutter)
- **fitter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fitter-vs-flutter)
- **flutes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flutes-vs-flutter)
- **fluted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fluted-vs-flutter)
- **flatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flatter-vs-flutter)
- **flatten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flatten-vs-flutter)
- **floater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/floater-vs-flutter)
- **flattery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flattery-vs-flutter)

## Common misspellings (9)
`fflutter`, `fllutter`, `fltuter`, `fluter`, `flutetr`, `flutterr`, `fluttre`, `fultter`, `lfutter`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/flutter