flag [flagflagsflaggedflagging] noun, verb BrE [flæɡ] NAmE [flæɡ] noun 1. a piece of cloth with a special coloured design on it that may be the symbol of a particular country or organization, or may have a particular meaning. A flag can be attached to a pole or held in the hand •the Italian flag •the flag of Italy • The hotel flies the European Union flag. • The American flag was flying. •All the flags were at half mast (= in honour of a famous person who has died). •The black and white flag went down, and the race began. see also ↑blue flag 2. used to refer to a particular country or organization and its beliefs and values •to swear allegiance to the flag •He was working under the flag of the United Nations. 3. a piece of cloth that is attached to a pole and used as a signal or ↑marker in various sports 4. a flower that is a type of ↑iris and that grows near water •yellow flags 5. = ↑flagstone more at like waving a red flag in front of a bull at ↑redadj.
Word Origin: n. senses 1 to 3 and v. sense 1 mid 16th cent. flag ‘drooping’ n. sense 5 late Middle English ‘turf, sod’ Icelandic flag ‘spot from which a sod has been cut’ flaga ‘slab of stone’ n. sense 4 late Middle English Middle Dutch flag Danish flæg v. sense 2 mid 16th cent. ‘flap about loosely, hang down’ flag ‘hanging down’
Example Bank: •A tattered flag hung from the roof of the burnt-out building. •Hamilton took the chequered/checkered flag to win his fourth Grand Prix of the season. •The crowd all waved flags as the president came past. •The fact that it was so cheap should have been a warning flag for me. •a flag fluttering in the breeze •a flag of truce •a ship flying a Russian flag •a ship sailing under a British flag Idioms: ↑fly the flag▪ ↑keep the flag flying Derived: ↑flag somebody down▪ ↑flag something up
verb (-gg-) 1. transitive ~ sth to put a special mark next to information that you think is important •I've flagged the paragraphs that we need to look at in more detail. 2. intransitive to become tired, weaker or less enthusiastic •It had been a long day and the children were beginning to flag. •Her confidence had never flagged. •flagging support/enthusiasm Verb forms:
Word Origin: n. senses 1 to 3 and v. sense 1 mid 16th cent. flag ‘drooping’ n. sense 5 late Middle English ‘turf, sod’ Icelandic flag ‘spot from which a sod has been cut’ flaga ‘slab of stone’ n. sense 4 late Middle English Middle Dutch flag Danish flæg v. sense 2 mid 16th cent. ‘flap about loosely, hang down’ flag ‘hanging down’
Example Bank: •I've flagged the paragraphs that we need to look at in more detail.
