fluttery

UK: /ˈflʌtərɪ/ US: (flut′ə rē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flut•ter•y  (flut′ə rē), adj. 

1. fluttering;
   apt to flutter.

• 1350–1400; Middle English; see flutter, -y¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fluttery / ˈflʌtərɪ/ adjective

1. flapping rapidly; fluttering
2. showing nervousness or excitement
3. light or insubstantial

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

flut•ter /ˈflʌtɚ/   v. 

1. to (cause to) wave or flap about: [no object]
   Banners fluttered in the breeze.
   [~ + object]
   The breeze fluttered the banners.
2. to flap the wings rapidly or fly with flapping movements:
   [no object] The pigeons fluttered away.
3. to move in quick, irregular motions:
   [no object] fluttered around the office looking for something to do.
4. to beat rapidly:
   [no object] Her heart fluttered for a moment.

n. [countable]

5. a fluttering movement:
   a flutter of wings.
6. a state of nervous excitement or mental agitation:
   [usually: singular] in a flutter of anticipation.
7. a stir;
   flurry:
   [usually: singular] That news caused quite a flutter.

flut•ter•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flut•ter  (flut′ər), v.i. 

1. to wave, flap, or toss about:
   Banners fluttered in the breeze.
2. to flap the wings rapidly;
   fly with flapping movements.
3. to move in quick, irregular motions;
   vibrate.
4. to beat rapidly, as the heart.
5. to be tremulous or agitated.
6. to go with irregular motions or aimless course:
   to flutter back and forth.

v.t. 

7. to cause to flutter;
   vibrate;
   agitate.
8. to throw into nervous or tremulous excitement;
   cause mental agitation;
   confuse.

n. 

9. a fluttering movement:
   He made little nervous flutters with his hands.
10. a state of nervous excitement or mental agitation:
    a flutter of anticipation.
11. Sport See flutter kick. 
12. Sound Reproduction [Audio.] a variation in pitch resulting from rapid fluctuations in the speed of a recording. Cf. wow² (def. 1).
13. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.] a small wager or speculative investment.

• Middle English floteren, Old English floterian, frequentative of flotian to float bef. 1000

flut′ter•er, n. 
flut′ter•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. See fly ¹.
• 10. flurry, twitter, stir, dither.