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Flap vs Latch - What's the difference?

flap | latch |

As nouns the difference between flap and latch

is that flap is anything broad and flexible that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved while latch is (automotive).

As a verb flap

is to move (something broad and loose) back and forth.

flap

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • Anything broad and flexible that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved.
  • * Sir Thomas Browne
    • a cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx
  • *
  • A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.
  • An upset, stir, scandal or controversy
  • The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it.
  • * , chapter=4
    • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Then he commenced to talk, really talk. and inside of two flaps of a herring's fin he had me mesmerized, like Eben Holt's boy at the town hall show. He talked about the ills of humanity, and the glories of health and Nature and service and land knows what all.}}
  • A disease in the lips of horses.
  • (aviation) A hinged surface on the trailing edge of the wings of an aeroplane.
  • (surgery) A piece of tissue incompletely detached from the body, as an intermediate stage of plastic surgery.
  • (slang) The female genitals.

    • Synonyms

    * (upset)

    See also

    * ("flap" on Wikipedia) * * lappet

    Verb

    (flapp)
  • To move (something broad and loose) back and forth.
    • The crow slowly flapped its wings.
  • *
  • To move loosely back and forth.
    • The flag flapped in the breeze.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=September 29 , author=Tom Rostance , title=Stoke 2 - 1 Besiktas , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Former Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber flapped at his first Delap throw but was given a soft free-kick by referee Antony Gautier.}}

    Derived terms

    * cat flap * flapper * unflappable ----

    latch

    English

    (wikipedia latch)

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (es)
  • A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.
  • * 1912 : (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 4
    • The cleverly constructed latch which Clayton had made for the door had sprung as Kerchak passed out; nor could the apes find means of ingress through the heavily barred windows.
  • A flip-flop electronic circuit
  • (obsolete) A latching.
  • (obsolete) A crossbow.
  • (obsolete) That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.
    • Derived terms
    * on the latch

    Verb

    (es)
  • To close or lock as if with a latch
  • To catch; lay hold of
  • :* Where hearing should not latch them. — Shakespeare, MacBeth , Act IV
    • Derived terms
    * latch on * latch on to * latch onto

    Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) .

    Verb

    (es)
  • (obsolete) To smear; to anoint.
    • (Shakespeare)