flag

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

a piece of cloth, varying in size, shape, color, and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, and used as the symbol of a nation, state, or organization, as a means of signaling, etc.; ensign; standard; banner; pennant.

Ornithology. the tuft of long feathers on the legs of falcons and most hawks; the lengthened feathers on the crus or tibia.

Hunting. the tail of a deer or of a setter dog.

Journalism.

the nameplate of a newspaper.
masthead(def 1).
the name of a newspaper as printed on the editorial page.

a tab or tag attached to a page, file card, etc., to mark it for attention.

Music. hook¹(def 12a).

Movies, Television. a small gobo.

Usually flags. the ends of the bristles of a brush, especially a paintbrush, when split.

Computers. a symbol, value, or other means of identifying data of interest, or of informing later parts of a program what conditions earlier parts have encountered.

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to place a flag or flags over or on; decorate with flags.

to signal or warn (a person, automobile, etc.) with or as if with a flag (sometimes followed by down): to flag a taxi; to flag down a passing car.

to communicate (information) by or as if by a flag.

to decoy, as game, by waving a flag or the like to excite attention or curiosity.

to mark (a page in a book, file card, etc.) for attention, as by attaching protruding tabs.

(of a brush) to split the ends of the bristles.

Idioms for flag

strike the flag,

to relinquish command, as of a ship.
to submit or surrender: His financial situation is growing worse, but he's not ready to strike the flag.

Also strike one's flag.

Origin of flag

1475–85; perhaps blend of flap (noun) and fag¹ (noun) in obsolete sense “flap”

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

flag·ger, noun flag·less, adjective

Words nearby flag

flabellum, flaccid, flack, flackery, flacon, flag, flag captain, flag day, flag down, flag fall, flag football

Definition for flag (2 of 4)

flag ²

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

any of various plants with long, sword-shaped leaves, as the sweet flag.

blue flag.

the long, slender leaf of such a plant or of a cereal.

Origin of flag

1350–1400; Middle English flagge

Definition for flag (3 of 4)

flag ³

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

verb (used without object), flagged, flag·ging.

to fall off in vigor, energy, activity, interest, etc.: Public enthusiasm flagged when the team kept losing.

to hang loosely or limply; droop.

Origin of flag

1535–45; perhaps blend of of flap (v.) and fag¹ (v.) in obsolete sense “to droop”. See flag¹

SYNONYMS FOR flag

1 dwindle, wilt, slump, sag, wane.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR flag ON THESAURUS.COM

Definition for flag (4 of 4)

flag ⁴

[ flag ]

/ flæg /

noun

flagstone(def 1).

flags, flagstone(def 2).

verb (used with object), flagged, flag·ging.

to pave with flagstones.

Origin of flag

⁴

1400–50; late Middle English flagge piece of sod; akin to Old Norse flaga slab

OTHER WORDS FROM flag

flag·ger, noun

Example sentences from the Web for flag

Beyond the huge American flag that hung over the street, the mile-long mass of cops ended.

Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss |Michael Daly |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
One of the honor guard approached with slow, measured steps and presented the flag to a uniformed captain.

Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos |Michael Daly |December 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
On his Instagram account (which has since been taken down), Brinsley made one reference to burning an American flag.

Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish |M.L. Nestel |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Somebody had hung an American flag and people of the neighborhood had placed bouquets and candles.

'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops |Michael Daly |December 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Reid planted a flag, ready to make his mark in the world of whisky, backed by ambition and a gorgeous piece of land.

Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey | |December 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They brought with them from the old colonies their educational traditions and their devotion to the flag of the Empire.

Ryerson Memorial Volume |J. George Hodgins
He has been tried as a spy, condemned as a spy, and shall be executed as a spy, and the flag is ordered to depart immediately.

Elsie and Her Loved Ones |Martha Finley
They were to fly the American flag; that, too, should mean a subsidy.

The President |Alfred Henry Lewis
The race ends when the flag returns to the leader, who waves the same above his head, indicating the close of the race.

School, Church, and Home Games |George O. Draper
The cause which the flag stands for may be foolish and fleeting; the love may be calf-love, and last for a week.

A Chesterton Calendar |G. K. Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for flag (1 of 4)

flag ¹

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

a piece of cloth, esp bunting, often attached to a pole or staff, decorated with a design and used as an emblem, symbol, or standard or as a means of signalling

a small paper flag, emblem, or sticker sold on flag days

computing an indicator, that may be set or unset, used to indicate a condition or to stimulate a particular reaction in the execution of a computer program

informal short for flag officer, flagship

journalism another name for masthead (def. 2)

the fringe of long hair, tapering towards the tip, on the underside of the tail of certain breeds of dog, such as setters

the conspicuously marked tail of a deer

a less common name for bookmark

Australian and NZ the part of a taximeter that is raised when a taxi is for hire

the pennant-shaped pattern that is formed when a price fluctuation is plotted on a chart, interrupting the steady rise or fall that precedes and then follows it

the flag (in Victoria, Australia) the Australian Rules premiership

fly the flag to represent or show support for one's country, an organization, etc

show the flag

to assert a claim, as to a territory or stretch of water, by military presence
informal to be present; make an appearance

strike the flag or lower the flag

to relinquish command, esp of a ship
to submit or surrender

verb flags, flagging or flagged (tr)

to decorate or mark with a flag or flags

(often foll by down) to warn or signal (a vehicle) to stop

to send or communicate (messages, information, etc) by flag

to decoy (game or wild animals) by waving a flag or similar object so as to attract their attention

to mark (a page in a book, card, etc) for attention by attaching a small tab or flag

mainly Australian to draw attention to (something)

(foll by away or by) NZ to consider unimportant; brush aside

Derived forms of flag

flagger, noun flagless, adjective

Word Origin for flag

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for flag (2 of 4)

flag ²

/ (flæɡ) /

verb flags, flagging or flagged (intr)

to hang down; become limp; droop

to decline in strength or vigour; become weak or tired

Word Origin for flag

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for flag (3 of 4)

flag ³

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

any of various plants that have long swordlike leaves, esp the iris Iris pseudacorus (yellow flag)

the leaf of any such plant

Word Origin for flag

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Dutch flag, Danish flæg yellow iris

British Dictionary definitions for flag (4 of 4)

flag ⁴

/ (flæɡ) /

noun

short for flagstone

verb flags, flagging or flagged

(tr) to furnish (a floor) with flagstones

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

flag

noun