flitting
ˈflɪtɪŋ
Definition Synonyms

Definition of flitting - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
quick movementmoving quickly and lightly
  • The flitting bird was hard to photograph.
darting dashing skimming
2.
transiencebrief and likely to be of short duration
  • She caught a flitting glimpse of the deer.
fleeting transient
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Origin of flitting

Old English, flyht (flight) + -ing (action)

Terms with flitting included in their meaning

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movement
quick flitting movement

Examples of flitting in a sentence

  • His flitting movements made him hard to follow.
  • The flitting shadows danced on the wall.
  • Her flitting thoughts made it hard to focus.

View all translations of flitting

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:rapide, fugitif, ...
  2. German:flink, flüchtig, ...
  3. Italian:rapido e leggero, fugace, ...
  4. Spanish:rápido y ligero, efímero, ...
  5. Portuguese:ligeiro, passageiro, ...
  6. Chinese:轻快的, 短暂的, ...
  7. Japanese:素早く動く, 一瞬の, ...
  8. Arabic:خَفِيف, عابِر, ...
  9. Hebrew:מְרַפְרִיף, ...
  10. Russian:быстро порхающий, мимолетный, ...
  11. Ukrainian:пурхливий, короткочасний, ...
  12. Hindi:तेज़ी से उड़ता हुआ, क्षणिक, ...
flit
flɪt
flitted

Definition of flit - Reverso English Dictionary

Verb

intr.
1.
quick motionmove or travel swiftly and lightly from one spot to another
  • Butterflies flit between the flowers in the warm sun.
2.
escapeDatedUKleave one's home, typically to avoid debts or responsibilitiesDatedUK
  • He decided to flit under the cover of darkness..
dart dash flee

Noun

1.
movementquick darting movement
  • The bird made a flit across the garden.
dart dash
2.
languageSlangUSoffensive slang word for a gay manSlangUS
  • The term 'flit' was used in old slang.
slur
3.
technologyTECH.flow control unit in networkingTECH.
  • The data was sent in a flit.
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Expressions with flit

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move quickly and lightly from place to place
Butterflies flit about the garden on sunny days.
appear quickly and briefly in someone's mind
The idea flit through my mind for a second.
leave quickly and secretly to avoid something
He decided to do a flit before the landlord arrived.
leave secretly at night to avoid paying debts
They did a moonlight flit to avoid their landlord.
hurried escape at night to avoid obligations
The family made a moonlight flit to evade debts.

Origin of flit

Middle English, flitten (to move)

Examples of flit in a sentence

  • Her thoughts flit from one unfinished task to another.
  • They had to flit to avoid the creditors.
  • She planned to flit before dawn to escape her debts.
  • A flit of shadows crossed the room.
  • The flit of the butterfly was mesmerizing.
  • He was bullied at school and called a flit.

View all translations of flit

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:voltiger, mouvement rapide, ...
  2. German:flattern, Huschen, ...
  3. Italian:svolazzare, guizzo, ...
  4. Spanish:revolotear, movimiento, ...
  5. Portuguese:esvoaçar, movimento rápido, ...
  6. Chinese:飞来飞去, 闪动, ...
  7. Japanese:飛び回る, 素早い動き, ...
  8. Arabic:رَفْرَفَ, خطفة, ...
  9. Hebrew:לְרַחֵף, תְּנוּעָה חֲטוּפָה, ...
  10. Russian:порхать, рывок, ...
  11. Ukrainian:пурхати, ривок, ...
  12. Hindi:फुर्ती से उड़ना, फ्लिट, ...
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