flag
1 (flăg)
[Origin unknown.]
noun
- A piece of cloth, usually rectangular, of distinctive color and design, used as a symbol, standard, signal, or emblem.
- National or other allegiance, as symbolized by a flag: ships of the same flag.
- A ship carrying the flag of an admiral; a flagship.
- A marking device, such as a gummed strip of paper, attached to an object to attract attention or ease identification; a tab.
- The masthead of a newspaper.
- Music A cross stroke that halves the value of a note to which it is added.
- A distinctively shaped or marked tail, as of a dog or deer.
- Computer Science A variable or memory location that stores true-or-false, yes-or-no information.
transitive verb: flagged, flag·ging, flags.
- To mark with a flag or flags for identification or ornamentation: flag a parade route; flagging parts of a manuscript for later review.
- To signal with or as if with a flag.
- To signal to stop: flag down a passing car.
derivatives
- flaǵger
- noun
flag
2 (flăg)
[Middle English flagge, reed, of Scandinavian origin.]
noun
- A plant, such as an iris or cattail, that has long sword-shaped leaves.
flag
3 (flăg)
[Possibly of Scandinavian originOld Norse flögra, to flap about.]
intransitive verb: flagged, flag·ging, flags.
- To hang limply; droop.
- To decline in vigor or strength: The conversation flagged.
flag
4 (flăg)
[Middle English flagge, piece of turf, from Old Norse flaga, slab of stone.]
noun
- A flagstone.
transitive verb: flagged, flag·ging, flags.
- To pave with slabs of flagstone.