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Flag vs Nation - What's the difference?

flag | nation |

As nouns the difference between flag and nation

is that flag is a piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol or flag can be any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, iris pseudacorus or flag can be a slice of turf; a sod or flag can be a group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc while nation is (label) nation.

As a verb flag

is to furnish or deck out with flags or flag can be to weaken, become feeble or flag can be to lay down flagstones.

flag

English

(commons)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) flag, . More at (l), (l).

Noun

(en noun)
  • A piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem, used as a visual signal or symbol.
  • An exact representation of a flag (for example: a digital one used in websites).
  • (nautical) A flag flown by a ship to show the presence on board of the admiral; the admiral himself, or his flagship.
  • (nautical, often used attributively) A signal flag.
  • The use of a flag, especially to indicate the start of a race or other event.
  • (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.
  • (computer science) In a command line interface, a command parameter requesting optional behavior or otherwise modifying the action of the command being invoked.
  • (British) An abbreviation for capture the flag.
    • Synonyms
    * Boolean * switch
    Derived terms
    * antiflag * false flag * flagkini * freak flag * raise a flag * show the flag * white flag

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To furnish or deck out with flags.
  • To mark with a flag, especially to indicate the importance of something.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 8 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=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. }}
  • To signal to, especially to stop a passing vehicle etc.
    • Please flag down a taxi for me.
  • To convey (a message) by means of flag signals.
    • to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance
  • To note, mark or point out for attention.
    • I've flagged up the need for further investigation into this.
    Users of the Internet forum can flag others' posts as inappropriate.
  • (computing) To signal (an event).
    • The compiler flagged three errors.
  • (computing) To set a program variable to true .
    • Flag the debug option before running the program.

    See also

    * banner * colour * ensign * jack * pennant * standard * vexillology

    Etymology 2

    Probably from (etyl).

    Verb

    (flagg)
  • To weaken, become feeble.
    • His strength flagged toward the end of the race.
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • The pleasures of the town begin to flag .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=December 29 , author=Paul Doyle , title=Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=The sides took it in turns to err and excite before Newcastle flagged and Arsenal signalled their top-four credentials by blowing the visitors away. }}
  • To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.
  • * T. Moore
    • as loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast
  • To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness.
    • to flag the wings
    (Prior)
  • To enervate; to exhaust the vigour or elasticity of.
  • * Echard
    • Nothing so flags the spirits.

    Etymology 3

    Of uncertain origin; compare Danish .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any of various plants with sword-shaped leaves, especially irises; specifically, Iris pseudacorus .
  • * before 1899 , Robert Seymour Bridges, There is a Hill :
    • And laden barges float
    By banks of myosote;
    And scented flag and golden flower-de-lys
    Delay the loitering boat.
    Derived terms
    * sweet flag

    Etymology 4

    Probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic flag

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A slice of turf; a sod.
  • A slab of stone; a flagstone, a flat piece of stone used for paving.
  • (geology) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.

    • Verb

    (flagg)
  • To lay down flagstones.
  • * Fred is planning to flag his patio this weekend.

    • Etymology 5

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc.
  • A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
  • The bushy tail of a dog such as a setter.
  • (music) A hook attached to the stem of a written note that assigns its rhythmic value

    • References

    1000 English basic words ----

    nation

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common language, territory, economic life, ethnicity and/or psychological make-up manifested in a common culture.
  • A sovereign state.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=David Simpson
    • , volume=188, issue=26, page=36, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Fantasy of navigation , passage=It is tempting to speculate about the incentives or compulsions that might explain why anyone would take to the skies in [the] basket [of a balloon]: 
  • (chiefly, historical) An association of students based on their birthplace or ethnicity. (jump)
  • (obsolete) A great number; a great deal.
    • a nation of herbs
    (Sterne)
    Usage notes
    * (British) Following the establishment of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, England, Scotland and Wales are normally considered distinct nations. Application of the term nation to the United Kingdom as a whole is deprecated in most style guides, including the BBC, most newspapers and in UK Government publications. Northern Ireland, being of less clear legal status, generally remains a province.
    Synonyms
    * thede * (an association of students) student nation
    Derived terms
    * First Nations * Ford Nation * national * nationality * nation building * nation-state * student nation * United Nations
    Related terms
    * antenatal * innate * nascent * natal * native * nativity * nativism * nativization * nature * natural * naturism * naturalism * prenatal
    See also
    * country * culture * homeland * ethnicity * people * race * society * state * thede

    Etymology 2

    Probably short for (m).

    Noun

  • (rare) Damnation.

    • Adverb

  • (rare, dialectal) Extremely; very
  • * Mark Twain:
    • I'm nation sorry for you.

    References

    * "Notable and Quotable," Merriam Webster Online Newsletter (November, 2005) [http://www.word.com/unabridged/archives/2005/11/notable_and_quo_4.html] (as accessed on December 23, 2005).

    Statistics

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    Anagrams

    * (l), (l) 1000 English basic words ----