How Do You Spell FLAIL?

Pronunciation: [flˈe͡ɪl] (IPA)

The word "flail" is spelled with the letters f, l, a, i, and l in that order. Its phonetic transcription in IPA is /fleɪl/. The "f" sound is made by touching the bottom lip to the top teeth while blowing air out, the "l" sound is made by placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth, and the "ay" sound is a diphthong made by moving from an "eh" sound to an "ee" sound. The second "l" sound is also made by placing the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

FLAIL Meaning and Definition

1. Flail is a verb that can have multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Generally, it refers to the rapid and uncontrollable waving or swinging of a limb or an object. It often implies a lack of coordination or purpose in the movement. However, it can also indicate an intense and vigorous action.

   As a physical action, flail can describe the uncontrolled movements of a person's arms or legs, symbolizing a lack of bodily control or balance. For instance, a person experiencing a seizure might flail their limbs involuntarily.

   In a wider sense, flailing can also describe the wild and erratic movement of an object or substance. For example, a loose sail on a ship caught in a storm may flail in the wind. Similarly, a flag flailing in the breeze indicates a whipping, unsteady movement.

   Figuratively, flail can be used to describe someone who is struggling or panicking in a given situation, unable to find a solution or direction. For instance, a person might flail when faced with overwhelming stress or an unfamiliar challenge they are ill-prepared for.

   Overall, the term "flail" typically conveys a sense of uncontrolled, erratic movement, whether it be physical or metaphorical, suggesting a lack of coordination, balance, or purpose.

2. A wooden instrument for beating out corn from the ear.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for FLAIL

• flanel
• fianl
• fearl
• flaviu
• wlal
• faily
• fleel
• flafel
• wlil
• glail
• faisl
• ffall
• faild
• flamily
• delail
• flial
• femail
• flaire
• flaier
• flamly
• fluild
• feaild
• fmaily
• flakly
• facil
• flal
• flais
• flaik
• flai
• fmail
• flavil
• flexil
• fuzil
• plail
• flavel
• fvlain
• Fliin
• Flawl
• Ladil
• vcail
• pulail
• Alael
• faeil
• llal
• fytil
• wlaih
• foeil
• IiAIL
• nlakl
• flaimm
• FIIIl
• Felaia
• Fiaila
• Flieon
• Fltig
• flaxily
• FlKeL
• faiel
• klaip

Etymology of FLAIL

The word "flail" is derived from the Old English word "flegil" or "fligel", which originally referred to a tool used for threshing grain. The Old English term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "flagilaz". This, in turn, is believed to have originated from the Latin word "flagellum", meaning "whip" or "scourge". The term "flail" has also been used metaphorically to refer to something that swings or moves about violently, much like the action of threshing grain.

Idioms with the word FLAIL

• flail about The idiom "flail about" means to move or act wildly, often with lack of control, in a desperate or uncoordinated manner. It typically describes someone who is struggling or panicking without making any meaningful or productive progress.

Similar spelling words for FLAIL

• foil,
• Foliole,
• flaw,
• Velella,
• FALWELL,
• fla.,
• PHILOL.,
• vallely,
• frail,
• un-filial,
• FLALE,
• filoli,
• flair,
• villella,
• valhalla,
• Fallulah,
• foliolae,
• filoil,
• fleel,
• followell,
• valyl,
• FLJIL,
• Folily,
• flywall,
• volaille,
• flailed,
• Fellowly,
• flywheel,
• vellala,
• Floella,
• foal,
• fallill,
• PHLYL,
• fails,
• folwell,
• villela,
• fallal,
• Filially,
• flyslow,
• valhaila,
• filial,
• RO(T)FLOL,
• valhall,
• vilely,
• Flaily,
• FULLL,
• followill,
• vilella,
• flails,
• fall,
• fail,
• fueloil.

Plural form of FLAIL is FLAILS

Conjugate verb Flail

CONDITIONAL

I would flail

you would flail

he/she/it would flail

we would flail

they would flail

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be flailing

you would be flailing

he/she/it would be flailing

we would be flailing

they would be flailing

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have flail

you would have flail

he/she/it would have flail

we would have flail

they would have flail

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been flailing

you would have been flailing

he/she/it would have been flailing

we would have been flailing

they would have been flailing

FUTURE

I will flail

you will flail

he/she/it will flail

we will flail

they will flail

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be flailing

you will be flailing

he/she/it will be flailing

we will be flailing

they will be flailing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have flailed

you will have flailed

he/she/it will have flailed

we will have flailed

they will have flailed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been flailing

you will have been flailing

he/she/it will have been flailing

we will have been flailing

they will have been flailing

IMPERATIVE

you flail

we let´s flail

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to flail

PAST

I flailed

you flailed

he/she/it flailed

we flailed

they flailed

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was flailing

you were flailing

he/she/it was flailing

we were flailing

they were flailing

PAST PARTICIPLE

flailed

PAST PERFECT

I had flailed

you had flailed

he/she/it had flailed

we had flailed

they had flailed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been flailing

you had been flailing

he/she/it had been flailing

we had been flailing

they had been flailing

PRESENT

I flail

you flail

he/she/it flails

we flail

they flail

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am flailing

you are flailing

he/she/it is flailing

we are flailing

they are flailing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

flailing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have flailed

you have flailed

he/she/it has flailed

we have flailed

they have flailed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been flailing

you have been flailing

he/she/it has been flailing

we have been flailing

they have been flailing

I would have flailed

we would have flailed

you would have flailed

he/she/it would have flailed

they would have flailed