flapping
Loose fabric waving
Flapping is the up-and-down motion of wings or wing-like things: a bird flapping its wings, flags flapping in the wind.
The word suggests rapid, repeated movement with some looseness—things that flap aren't rigid.
Flapping can be intransitive (the sail was flapping) or transitive (she flapped the tablecloth to shake off crumbs).
Soft crackling noise
- thwackingHitting with impact
- slappingStriking with open palm
- snappingBreaking with sharp sound
- whippingRepeated striking blows
beating · crackling · smacking · whooshing · thudding · whirring · rippling · luffing
Winged insect from caterpillar
- mothNight-flying lepidopteran
- dragonflyLarge-eyed flying predator
- beeStinging nectar gatherer
- beetleHard-winged insect
hover · delicate · gossamer · flutter · pollinator · antennae · iridescent · buzzing
Bird's lightweight covering
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- wingsLimbs for flight
- soarAscend to heights
- glideMove with effortless continuity
hover · flock · migrate · perch · roost · plumage · beak · talons
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
- franticWildly anxious or desperate
- alarmedFeeling sudden fear
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
anxious · overwrought · distressed · tizzy · commotion · hysteria · dither · flutter
Upper body limbs
- handsGripping limbs' extremities
- earsAuditory organs, paired
- jowlsSlack facial flesh
- gesticulatingMaking expressive hand movements
waving · cheeks · jiggling · wobbling · animated · frantic · wild
rustling
Soft crackling noise
whipping · beating · crackling · smacking · whooshing · thudding · whirring · rippling · luffing
butterfly
Winged insect from caterpillar
beetle · hover · delicate · gossamer · flutter · pollinator · antennae · iridescent · buzzing · darting
feathers
Bird's lightweight covering
glide · hover · flock · migrate · perch · roost · plumage · beak · talons · wingbeat
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
nervous · anxious · overwrought · distressed · tizzy · commotion · hysteria · dither · flutter · kerfuffle
arms
Upper body limbs
gesticulating · waving · cheeks · jiggling · wobbling · animated · frantic · wild
flag
Cloth symbol or signal
- sailShip's wind-catching fabric
- tarpaulinWaterproof protective sheeting
- bannerDisplayed strip with message
curtain · awning · tent · laundry · sheet · towel · napkin · handkerchief · drapery · canvas
semaphore
Flag-based signaling system
beacon · warning · alert · sos · gesture · hailing · attention · directing
- flightflying, fly, flight, aviation, aircraft
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- locomotionwalking, running, crawling, swimming, flying
- sound effectssound effects, sound effect, ringtone, boing, crash
- lenitionweakening, spirantization, debuccalization, tapping
- sound changesassimilation, elision, deletion, voicing, nasalization
flappingstill
Unmoving, or continuing
motionless · stationary · immobile · unmoving · static
- hand flappingQuick repetitive wrist motion
- wing flappingBird's airborne locomotion method
- happy flapping