flag

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[edit] English

Commons
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[edit] Pronunciation

  • IPA: /flæɡ/
  • (North American also) IPA: /fleɪɡ/, IPA: /flɛɡ/
  • Audio (US)
    		(file)
  • Rhymes: -æɡ

[edit] Etymology 1

From Middle English flag, flagge (“flag”), of Dutch or North Germanic origin. Compare Old Dutch vlagghe (“flag”), Modern Dutch vlag (“flag”), German Flagge (“flag”), Swedish flagg (“flag”), Danish flag (“flag, ship's flag”), Swedish flage (“to flutter in the wind”), Old Norse flögra (“to flap about”). Akin to Old High German flogarōn (“to flutter”), Old High German flogezen (“to flutter, flicker”), Middle English flakeren (“to move quickly to and fro”), Old English flacor (“fluttering, flying”). More at flacker.

a flag

[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. (UK, puerile) An abbreviation for capture the flag.
[edit] Synonyms
  • (computer science: true-or-false value): Boolean
  • (computer science: CLI notation): switch
[edit] Derived terms
terms derived from the noun "flag"
[edit] Translations
piece of cloth
nautical: flag showing the presence of an admiral
nautical: signal flag
use of a flag
true-or-false variable
computer science: notation for optional behaviour
abbreviation for capture the flag — see capture the flag
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

[edit] Verb

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 something.
    • 2011 January 8, Chris Bevan, “Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds”, BBC:
      Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside.
  2. (often with down) To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
    Please flag down a taxi for me.
  3. (often with up) To note, mark or point out for attention.
    I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
  4. (computing): To signal (an event).
    The compiler flagged three errors.
  5. (computing): To set a program variable to true.
    Flag the debug option before running the program.
[edit] Translations
to mark with a flag
to signal to
to note, mark or point out for attention
computing: to signal
computing: to set a programming variable to true

[edit] See also

[edit] Etymology 2

Probably from Old Norse.[1]

[edit] Verb

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
weaken

[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
[edit] Translations
plant with sword-shaped leaves

[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
flagstone

[edit] Verb

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
lay down flagstones

[edit] References

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

[edit] Danish

[edit] Noun

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

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

[edit] Inflection

    Inflection of flag
neuter gender Singular Plural
indefinite definite indefinite definite
nominative, dative and accusative flag flaget flag flagene
genitive flags flagets flags flagenes

[edit] Verb

flag

  1. imperative of flage

[edit] Dutch

[edit] Etymology

From English flag.

[edit] Noun

flag m. (plural flags, diminutive flagje)

  1. (computing) flag
Retrieved from "http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=flag&oldid=16205555"
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