Link Centre Dictionary

flag

UK/flæɡ/ US/flaɡ/ common slang uk
noun (7) verb (5)

noun

1.
2.

plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals

Synonyms
3.

a rectangular piece of fabric used as a signalling device

Synonyms
4.

a listing printed in all issues of a newspaper or magazine (usually on the editorial page) that gives the name of the publication and the names of the editorial staff, etc.

Synonyms
5.

flagpole used to mark the position of the hole on a golf green

Synonyms
6.

stratified stone that splits into pieces suitable as paving stones

Synonyms
7.

verb

1.

communicate or signal with a flag

2.

provide with a flag

  • “Flag this file so that I can recognize it immediately”
3.

droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness

Synonyms
4.

decorate with flags

  • “the building was flagged for the holiday”
5.

Origin

From Middle English flag, flagge (“flag”), further etymology uncertain. Perhaps from or related to early Middle English flage (name for a baby's garment) and Old English flagg, flacg (“cataplasm, poultice, plaster”). Or, perhaps ultimately imitative, or otherwise drawn from Proto-Germanic *flaką (“something flat”), from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂- (“flat, broad, plain”), referring to the shape. Germanic cognates include Saterland Frisian Flaage (“flag”), West Frisian flagge (“flag”), Dutch vlag (“flag”), German Flagge (“flag”), Swedish flagga (“flag”), Danish flag (“flag, ship's flag”). Compare also Middle English flacken (“to flutter, palpitate”), Swedish dialectal flage (“to flutter in the wind”), Old Norse flögra (“to flap about”). Akin to Old High German flogarōn (“to flutter”), Old High German flogezen (“to flutter, flicker”), Middle English flakeren (“to move quickly to and fro”), Old English flacor (“fluttering, flying”). More at flack, flacker.

Phrases

  • apartheid flag
  • arse like a Japanese flag
  • ass like a Japanese flag
  • beige flag
  • black flag
  • blue flag
  • buzzer flag
  • flag away
  • flag up
  • yellow flag

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

See also

Parts

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.