flag

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Adjective 1.2.1.1 Translations 1.2.2 Noun 1.2.2.1 Synonyms 1.2.2.2 Derived terms 1.2.2.3 Translations 1.2.3 Verb 1.2.3.1 Translations 1.2.4 See also 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Translations 1.4 Etymology 3 1.4.1 Noun 1.4.1.1 Derived terms 1.4.1.2 Translations 1.5 Etymology 4 1.5.1 Noun 1.5.1.1 Translations 1.5.2 Verb 1.5.2.1 Translations 1.6 References 2 Danish 2.1 Noun 2.1.1 Inflection 2.2 Verb 3 Dutch 3.1 Etymology 3.2 Noun

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /flæg/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -æɡ

[edit] Etymology 1

Origin unknown.

[edit] Adjective

flag (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to an admiral, commodore, or general officer.

   Captains park in the second row, flag officers next to the building.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

flag (plural flags)

1. A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
2. (nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
3. (nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
4. The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
5. (computer science) A variable or memory location that stores a true-or-false, yes-or-no value, typically either recording the fact that a certain event has occurred or requesting that a certain optional action take place.
6. (computer science) In a command line interface, a notation requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
7. (British, puerile) an abbreviation for capture the flag.

[edit] Synonyms

• (computer science: true-or-false value): Boolean
• (computer science: CLI notation): switch

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to flag (third-person singular simple present flags, present participle flagging, simple past and past participle flagged)

1. To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of
2. (often with down) To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
   • Please flag a taxi down for me.
3. (computing): To signal (an event).
   • The compiler flagged three errors.
4. (computing): To set a program variable to true.
   • Flag the debug option before running the program.

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

banner colour ensign

jack pennant

standard vexillology

[edit] Etymology 2

Probably from Old Norse.^[1]

[edit] Verb

to flag (third-person singular simple present flags, present participle flagging, simple past and past participle flagged)

1. (intransitive) To weaken, become feeble.
   • His strength flagged toward the end of the race.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 3

Of uncertain origin; compare Danish flæg.

[edit] Noun

flag (plural flags)

1. Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus.

[edit] Derived terms

• sweet flag

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 4

Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flag

[edit] Noun

flag (plural flags)

1. (obsolete except in dialects) A slice of turf; a sod.
2. A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to flag (third-person singular simple present flags, present participle flagging, simple past and past participle flagged)

1. To lay down flagstones.
   • Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.

[edit] Translations

[edit] References

• Notes:

1. ^ “flag” in the Online Etymology Dictionary, Douglas Harper, 2001

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[edit] Danish

[edit] Noun

flag n. (singular definite flaget, plural indefinite flag)

1. flag (cloth)
2. flag (true-false variable)

[edit] Inflection

[edit] Verb

flag

1. Imperative of flage.

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Etymology

Loan word from English.

[edit] Noun

flag f. (plural flags, no diminutive)

1. (computing) Flag (computer science meanings).