flip
noun · verb · adjective
Simple meaning
A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
flipIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈflɪp
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.
A complete change of direction, decision, movement etc.
A hairstyle popular among boys in the 1960s–70s and 2000s–10s, in which the hair goes halfway down the ears, at which point it sticks out
A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron (a "flip dog").
usslang
A slingshot.
informal
The purchase of an asset (usually a house) which is then improved and sold quickly for profit.
verb
Toss with a sharp movement so as to cause to turn over in the air
Turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse
transitive
To throw so as to turn over.
transitive
To put into a quick revolving motion through a snap of the thumb and index finger.
intransitiveus
To turn state's evidence; to agree to testify against one's co-conspirators in exchange for concessions from prosecutors.
transitiveus
To induce someone to turn state's evidence; to get someone to agree to testify against their co-conspirators in exchange for concessions.
adjective
Sarcastic.
ukinformal
Having the quality of playfulness, or lacking seriousness of purpose.
informal
Disrespectful, flippant.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A maneuver which rotates an object end over end.
Used this way, flip is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use flip
- “I don't know what to do--I may as well flip a coin!”verb
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Inflected forms
Grammatical variations of the same word.
A shoe for swimming.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Get very angry and fly into a rage.
Get very angry and fly into a rage.
React in an excited, delighted, or surprised way.
Turn upside down, or throw so as to reverse.
A different aspect of something (especially the opposite aspect).
With repeated strokes and noise.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.