flag Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
  2. noun 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.
    masthead.
  3. noun plants with sword-shaped leaves and erect stalks bearing bright-colored flowers composed of three petals and three drooping sepals
    iris; sword lily; fleur-de-lis.
  4. noun a rectangular piece of fabric used as a signalling device
    signal flag.
  5. noun flagpole used to mark the position of the hole on a golf green
    pin.
  6. noun stratified stone that splits into pieces suitable as paving stones
    flagstone.
  7. noun a conspicuously marked or shaped tail
  8. verb communicate or signal with a flag
  9. verb provide with a flag
    • Flag this file so that I can recognize it immediately
  10. verb droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness
    swag; sag; droop.
  11. verb decorate with flags
    • the building was flagged for the holiday
  12. verb become less intense
    slacken off; ease up; ease off.

WordNet

Flag intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Icel. flaka to droop, hang loosely. Cf. Flacker, Flag an ensign.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Flagged ; present participle & verbal noun Flagging
Definitions
  1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
    As loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast. T. Moore.
  2. To droop; to grow spiritless; to lose vigor; to languish; as, the spirits flag; the streugth flags.
    The pleasures of the town begin to flag. Swift.
    Syn. -- To droop; decline; fail; languish; pine.
Flag transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness; as, to flag the wings. prior.
  2. To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of.
    Nothing so flags the spirits. Echard.
Flag noun
Etymology
Cf. LG. & G. flagge, Sw. flagg, Dan. flag, D. vlag. See Flag to hang loose.
Definitions
  1. That which flags or hangs down loosely.
  2. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.
  3. (Zoöl.) (a) A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc. (b) A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks. (c) The bushy tail of a dog, as of a setter.
Flag transitive verb
Etymology
From Flag an ensign.
Definitions
  1. To signal to with a flag; as, to flag a train.
  2. To convey, as a message, by means of flag signals; as, to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance.
Flag noun
Etymology
From Flag to hang loose, to bend down.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) An aquatic plant, with long, ensiform leaves, belonging to either of the genera Iris and Acorus.
Flag transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To furnish or deck out with flags.
Flag noun
Etymology
Icel. flaga, cf. Icel. flag spot where a turf has been cut out, and E. flake layer, scale. Cf. Floe.
Definitions
  1. A flat stone used for paving. Woodward.
  2. (Geol.) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.
Flag transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To lay with flags of flat stones.
    The sides and floor are all flagged with . . . marble. Sandys.

Webster 1913